The recent developments in the UN, owing to the concerted efforts of PM Modi, have again pushed India’s claim for permanent membership in UNSC, says SURENDRA KUMAR GUPTA
On September 14, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) unanimously adopted a negotiating text for the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) vide which it enables the world body to negotiate on the long-pending reform issue so as to equip it to address the global challenges more effectively during its 70th session, which commenced on September 15.
This comes as another shot in the arm for the Narendra Modi Government after a resolution was passed by the UNGA on December 11 last year to commemorate June 21 as International Yoga Day.
This is first time that the world body has adopted a substantive document for reforming the Security Council, for enhancing the number of members from its present strength of permanent and temporary members as five and 10 respectively. Secondly, the issue of terrorism shall be taken up in the context of addressing global challenges more effectively as part of this resolution. These issues will be discussed for a year and the resolution shall be put to vote in the UNGA, which will require two-third majority for its passage.
From India’s point of view, it is a significant development which has come about after more than two decades of discussions. Recently, Modi, while addressing 70,000 strong Indian community in Dubai, had posed an open challenge to terrorism and called for unity among all countries against it.
The PM had also questioned the UN for its failure to decide on the definition of terrorism, which further unfolded his brave face in front of the world powers. He explicitly put forward India’s claim for permanent membership in UNSC for which he could receive UAE’s support. Hitherto, on the issues of imparting permanent membership to India in UNSC and formulation of a clear cut strategy to deal with terrorist groups and terrorist countries, the UN approach has been ineffective.
During his maiden speech in the UN, Modi had spoken fearlessly against terrorism and raised the need to have a comprehensive convention on international terrorism to resolve this issue effectively, including a common cyber interaction amongst all countries. He also stressed upon the need for involvement of member countries of peacekeeping forces in decision making in the UN. He also reiterated India’s resolve to maintain good relations with its neighbours, including Pakistan. However, he did not forget to mention the name of Pakistan as a nation which is facilitating the cause of terrorism and sheltering terrorists.
Further, on the completion of 70 years of the UN, he emphasised the need to review the relevance of the world body in the changed scenario in the context of terrorism and other 21st century threats.
With a total strength of 193 member countries of the UN, the Security Council is constituted of 15 member countries of which five are permanent and 10 are non-permanent members, which are elected for two years. Five permanent members or P5 are the US, Russia, China, France and the UK, which hold veto power. This means that if any of the P5 countries uses veto power on a resolution then it can’t be passed.
India has been elected seven times to the UNSC, only three countries have served longer than that (Japan, Brazil and Argentina), except for the P5 and Colombia has served for the same amount of time. Though India has been seeking a permanent seat in the UNSC as a member of the G4, an organisation comprising Brazil, Germany, Japan, and India, all G4 members are currently seeking permanent representation. According to their proposal, the UNSC should be expanded beyond the current 15 members to include 25 members.
India had been making a number of claims to justify its demand — it has the world’s second largest population and is the world’s largest liberal democracy. It is also the world’s 10th largest economy and third largest in terms of purchasing power. India is the third largest contributor of troops to UN peacekeeping missions with 7,860 personnel deployed with 10 peacekeeping missions as of 2014 after Bangladesh and Pakistan, all three nations being in South Asia.
India has contributed nearly 160,000 troops, the largest number from any country, participated in more than 43 missions and 156 Indian peacekeepers have made the supreme sacrifice while serving in UN missions. India has also provided and continues to provide eminent force commanders for UN missions.
The adoption of the text on September 14 by consensus of all UN member states is reflective of the broad support of the international community to move forward on this issue. The ensuing reform process shall be irreversible since the adoption of UNGA President Sam Kutesa’s decision has changed the dynamics. Kutesa had convened a plenary meeting to take action on the draft decision on the question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and related matters.
In July, he had circulated a negotiating text based on a survey of member states, laying out different proposals from over 120 member nations which responded to it. He had also circulated letters containing the positions of key countries including Russia, the US and China, which refused to contribute to the negotiating text.
India, Brazil, Japan and Germany have been working relentlessly over the years to push the reform process, but this has been opposed by regional rivals Italy, Argentina, Mexico, Pakistan and South Korea.
As a matter of fact, the three permanent members of UNSC are not in the favour of either enhancing the membership or a major reform. Though the US and Russia have always been supportive of India, they did not support in writing. France and the UK have openly supported India’s claim for permanent membership in UNSC.
The recent developments in the UN, owing to the concerted efforts of PM Modi, have again pushed India’s claim for permanent membership in UNSC. A dialogue on terrorism shall further pave the way for world powers to deal with the ever-growing monster with a united force in an effective manner.
The writer is ex-General Manager, BHEl, N Delhi