India’s UNSC permanent seat push: ‘We have to build consensus’ — ex-diplomat on why ‘world needs India’ | Exclusive

The G4 group of countries, comprising India, Brazil, Germany and Japan, has renewed its call for reform to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as it deems the current structure "anachronistic" and "more necessary than ever" amid an increasingly complex global environment. The reform push also includes support for increased representation of African nations on the Security Council.

Former Indian diplomat Suresh Goel explained why India’s push for a permanent seat on the UNSC is not solely for its own national interests, but rather for the world to have India as a permanent member. He emphasized that the Security Council is the principal organ responsible for matters relating to international peace and security, and the decisions on peacekeeping operations, sanctions and other security issues are significantly shaped by the permanent members, who have veto powers.

Goel highlighted India's role as a representative of the Global South, stating that India is "a country of the Global South, a country which pioneered the process of non-alignment and represents the interests and aspirations of a large number of countries in Africa, Latin America and other parts of the developing world." India's claim to permanent membership is based on its role as a voice of the Global South, he added.

Goel rejected the possibility of India being granted a permanent seat without the same powers as the existing permanent members, particularly the veto power. He stressed that all permanent members of the Security Council should have similar powers, rejecting the notion of a two-tier structure. The issue of veto power has been a central part of discussions on UNSC reform, with varying proposals on whether new permanent members should have the same powers as the current five.

While the annual UN General Assembly (UNGA) serves as a diplomatic platform for discussions on Security Council reform, Goel emphasized that negotiations will continue beyond the current session. He clarified that the reform process does not end with the UNGA, as the UNGA provides a platform for countries to express their political views on Security Council reform. India will continue to argue its case for permanent membership, but the negotiations and discussions will persist beyond the UNGA.

The next step for India, according to Goel, is to continue building support among UN member states. He emphasized the importance of building consensus around a model that countries can agree on, including the G4 framework and other proposals. Security Council restructuring requires the approval of UN members, with the permanent members having a pivotal say in the process, thus the need to build consensus, Goel added.

China, as one of the existing five permanent members, is crucial to India's UNSC reform efforts. Goel noted a recent "slight change" in Beijing's position regarding India's role in a reformed Security Council. While the specifics of China's new stance remain unclear, Goel sees this as a positive development and believes it is essential to build on China's agreement to a more significant role for India.

Goel, drawing from his experience at India's UN mission, highlighted the importance of including the permanent members in any reform process. He stressed that the decision-making role of permanent members is crucial, and India must build a process that takes them on board to avoid potential vetoes. Despite the challenges, Goel believes that building consensus and addressing China's concerns are the only ways to move forward in the process.