07 Nov 2022 India’s quest for permanent membership at UNSC
Significance for Prelims: UNSC; P-5; G-4
Significance for Mains: Veto powers available to P-5 members; India’s quest for permanent membership of the UNSC.
News: India is actively seeking reforms in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The expansion of permanent membership in the UNSC is one way of reform. India is seeking the support of various countries to fulfil its desire of becoming a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.
Obstacles in India’s quest for permanent membership:
- No Permanent Members (P-5) members i.e China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States want the UNSC’s ranks to be increased. Also, the majority members do not want any more veto-wielding members in the Council.
- No basis for declarations of support for India’s candidature for UNSC’s permanent membership: Each P-5 member is aware that someone among them will veto India’s candidature for UNSC.
- Claim of other countries as roadblocks to India’s membership: G-4 countries(India, Japan, Brazil and Germany) are also aspiring for permanent membership. Due to the present underrepresentation of Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean in the permanent category. These regions have a wide understanding and support.
- Other Obstacles to the expansion of permanent membership: China will never support India and Japan. Opposition to Brazil from other regional players. Italy is opposing the joining of Germany and Japan as permanent members. As these countries were Axis powers or ‘enemy’ states during the Second World War and if these countries join as permanent members only Italy will be left out (third founding member of the Axis group).
- Hurdles in amendment of UN Charter: Amendment of the UN Charter Charter involves the consent of two-thirds of the total membership of the U N, including the concurring votes of P-5. Amendment to the UN Charter happened once in the 1960s for the addition of non-permanent seats to the Council.
Issues associated with veto powers available to P-5 members:
- United Nations based on the edifice of veto powers available to P-5 members. The right to veto was the subject of maximum debate and controversy while drafting the Charter of the future United Nations at Dumbarton Oaks near Washington DC in 1944-45. Many countries oppose the right to veto but the British delegation made it clear that either you have a United Nations with a veto or no United Nations.
- Misuse of veto powers: Russia in its Soviet avatar cast more vetoes than the three western members combined. Western members also used this privilege many times to protect Israel and the apartheid regime of South Africa.
- Veto power and India: Indian delegates during the formation of the United Nations called for an imperfect United Nations with a veto than not having one. Russia supported India by vetoing unfavourable resolutions during the Bangladesh liberation war( 1971). India often needs the support of council members regarding Kashmir issues. But except Russia, no other country has a fixed positive attitude towards India. China often blocks India’s efforts to include confirmed Pakistani terrorists in the sanctions list.
Way forward:
- A new proposal that a UNSC resolution can be defeated only by a negative vote of at least two permanent members.
- Creation of a group of semi-permanent members: In this grouping, Countries would be elected for a period of eight to 10 years and would be eligible for re-election.
- If offered, India should grab the permanent membership even without veto to protect its vital national interest.
Source: The Hindu
Article: Permanent membership of the UNSC is another story(Chinmaya R. Gharekhan)
Article Link: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/permanent-membership-of-the-unsc-is-another-story/article65943147.ece
Yojna IAS Daily current affairs eng med 7th November
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