- India says new permanent members without veto would be “second-class”
- It insists all permanent members of a reformed council must hold the veto
- India has long sought a permanent Security Council seat
- India and Tajikistan to contest a 2028-29 non-permanent seat
INDIA has warned that any reform of the UN Security Council that creates new permanent members without veto power would leave them as “second-class” members and keep the existing five powers in control.
“India’s position on the veto is principled and well known... We reiterate that as long as the veto exists, it must be held by all permanent members of a reformed Council,” India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, said on Monday.
Speaking at an intergovernmental debate on the veto at the UN General Assembly, he said creating “another category of long-term members without the veto effectively makes them ‘second-class’ members and would not change the decision-making dynamic of the P5.”
The Security Council has five permanent members with veto power, China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States, and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.
Push for a permanent seat
India has long led efforts to reform the council, arguing that the body, founded in 1945, does not reflect today’s geopolitical realities and is not fit for purpose in the 21st century.
It has called for expanding both permanent and non-permanent membership, warning that reform focused only on adding non-permanent seats would amount to “failure.” India says it deserves a permanent seat.
2028-29 bid
India is also seeking a non-permanent seat for 2028-29. It will compete with Tajikistan for the Asia-Pacific Group’s single seat in elections scheduled for June next year.
India last served on the council in 2021-22, its eighth term.
(With inputs from agencies)
