New York – India has issued a strong plea for swift action on reforming the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), advocating for a framework that accurately reflects today's global realities. Ruchira Kamboj, India's Permanent Representative to the UN, stressed the need to expand both the permanent and non-permanent membership categories for the UNSC to be truly representative.
"A reformed Security Council must better reflect the world's geographical and developmental diversity," Kamboj stated during the 6th round of intergovernmental negotiations on Tuesday. "This means including voices from Africa, Latin America, and the vast majority of Asia and the Pacific."
Kamboj emphasized that India's position is backed by the majority of UN member states, with over 90% of written submissions in a 2015 framework document supporting an expansion of both permanent and non-permanent seats.
She countered the notion that adding permanent members would be undemocratic, saying, "We fail to understand how something clearly called for by the majority would be undemocratic." Kamboj further stressed that merely expanding the non-permanent category will not address the Council's need to reflect contemporary realities.
While acknowledging the present discussion does not focus on specific countries filling new permanent seats, India strongly advocates for a framework that allows for their creation. These new members would be elected through established UN procedures.
India's long-standing desire for a permanent seat on the UNSC reflects its aim to better represent developing nations. Influential figures like Dennis Francis support India's efforts, seeing the country as a positive contributor to global peace.
