UK joins France and US in supporting India’s bid for permanent UNSC seat
Currently, the United Nations Security Council has five permanent members and ten non-permanent members.
In his address to the 79th session of the UN General Assembly on Thursday, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed support for Indian representation as a permanent member of the UNSC seat. This comes after US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron made similar enquiries for India’s membership.
Addressing the General Assembly, the UK Prime Minister stated that “the Security Council has to change to become a more representative body, willing to act – not paralysed by politics.” “We want to see permanent African representation on the Council, Brazil, India, Japan and Germany as permanent members, and more seats for elected members as well”, stated the United Kingdom PM.
The development comes a day after US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron lobbied for India’s inclusion as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
Calls for Expansion and Inclusion
Currently, the United Nations Security Council has five permanent members and ten non-permanent members. The United Nations General Assembly elects non-permanent members to serve two-year terms. The five permanent members—Russia, the United Kingdom, China, France, and the United States—can veto any substantive resolution.
Earlier on Wednesday, during his address to the UN General Assembly, French President Emmanuel Macron campaigned for India’s inclusion as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). He also supported the inclusion of Brazil, Japan, Germany, and two African countries, underlining the need to make the UNSC more inclusive and representative.
Macron said, “Let’s make the UN more efficient. We need to make it more representative and that’s why France is in favour of the Security Council being expanded. Germany, Japan, India, and Brazil should be permanent members, along with two countries that Africa will decide to represent them.”
Last week, US President Joe Biden backed India’s bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
During the Quad Leaders’ Summit, leaders from the United States, India, Japan, and Australia highlighted the need for significant UN changes in a joint statement.
This followed bilateral conversations between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Biden on September 21 in Wilmington, Delaware, during which Biden reaffirmed the US’s support for India’s membership in a reformed Security Council, according to a White House statement.
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