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There are currently 5 permanent members in UNSC. There has been a demand for a long time to increase the number of member countries through reforms.
French President Emmanuel Macron has supported India’s permanent seat in the UNSC (United Nations Security Council). In a speech to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Thursday, September 25, Macron said that France supports increasing the number of permanent members in the UNSC.
Apart from India, Macron has asked for membership in UNSC to Germany, Japan, Brazil and 2 African countries. He called it a necessary step to make the UNSC inclusive. Apart from this, Macron also talked about the need for reforms in the organization to change its work.
Earlier, in the joint statement issued by the Quad countries on September 21, they had also asked for reforms in the UNSC. It was said to include African, Asian, Latin American and Caribbean countries.
UNSC has 5 permanent members – America, Britain, France, Russia and China. Of these, 4 countries are ready to support India, but China is becoming an obstacle.
Why does India want a permanent seat in UNSC? The United Nations Security Council or UNSC is one of the six major organs of the United Nations. This is the most powerful organization of the UN. It is responsible for ensuring international peace and security and approving any changes to the UN Charter.
In some cases the UNSC may resort to sanctions or the use of force to maintain or restore international peace and security. That means, if India also becomes a permanent member of UNSC, then its consent will be necessary on any major issue of the world.
There are a total of 15 member countries in the Security Council, of which 5 are permanent (P-5) and 10 are non-permanent. Permanent members include America, Britain, France, Russia and China. If any country among the permanent members disagrees with any decision, it can stop it from being passed by using veto power.
India is the strongest contender for the sixth permanent seat in UNSC
- 17% of the world’s population lives in India. India is the most populous country in the world with a population of 142 crores. It is necessary to have representation of such a large population in the UNSC.
- India’s average annual growth rate in the last decade has been more than 7%. This is the highest compared to any other big country after China. This economic power cannot be ignored in the UNSC.
- India is a nuclear power, but it does not flaunt it. If India is included in the Security Council, it can play an important role in the nuclear disarmament program.
- According to the survey of the international think tank ‘Atlantic Council’, if the UNSC is expanded in the next decade, then India will have the maximum opportunities in it. According to the survey conducted among experts, the chances of India becoming a permanent member will be 26%.
China is the biggest obstacle to India’s membership UNSC has 5 permanent members – America, Britain, France, Russia and China. Of these, 4 countries are ready to support India, but China does not want India to get entry on the most powerful body of the UN. To pass any resolution in the UN Security Council, the support of all 5 permanent countries is necessary.
France, America, Russia and Britain have expressed their consent, but China has been opposing India’s permanent membership on various pretexts. Whereas India had supported China becoming a permanent member of UNSC.