Why is it in the News?

At a time when India is seriously advocating structural and functional reforms in the United Nations, the global forum’s president, Dennis Francis, has expressed optimism about India’s potential to secure a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

Context:

• Amid India's active promotion of structural and functional reforms within the United Nations, Dennis Francis, the president of the global forum, has voiced optimism regarding India's ability to secure a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
• The US and other Western countries sound extremely hollow when they pontificate on strengthening democracy and the fight against terrorism even as they keep India out of P5.

What is P5 Nations in the United Nations?

• P5 refers to the Permanent Five or Permanent Members of the United Nations Security Council.
• These are the five countries that have a permanent seat on the Security Council, granting them significant power within the UN.

The P5 members are:

• • China
  • France
  • Russia
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
• Most of these countries were major victors of World War II and were seen as key players in maintaining international peace and security. 
• They hold a special privilege within the Security Council:  the right to veto any resolution.
• This means any one of these countries can single-handedly block a resolution, regardless of how many other countries support it.
• The P5's power and influence is a subject of some debate. Some argue that it's necessary to maintain stability, while others believe it gives these countries too much control and hinders the UN's effectiveness.

Urgent Need for Overhauling the United Nations (UN):

• Addressing the 76th UNGA in 2021, the Prime Minister of India underscored the imperative for 'comprehensive UN reforms,' stressing that 'outmoded structures' are inadequate to tackle contemporary challenges.
• Issues such as climate change, counterterrorism efforts, and the attainment of sustainable development goals (SDGs) were not prioritized when the UN was established seven decades ago.
  • Today, they demand urgent attention.
• The aftermath of World War 2 has spawned numerous conflicts that persist, undermining global peace and economic advancement.
• The Covid-19 pandemic has laid bare the fragility of the world's healthcare systems.
• In today's multipolar world, the UN's polarized and antiquated structure is ill-suited to meet the demands of global governance.
  • Cooperation among nations is essential to prevent the abuse of selective veto power by members pursuing hegemonic agendas.

Inconsistencies in Global Perceptions of India's UNSC Candidacy:

• In 2023, as India's G20 presidency drew to a close, the country's foreign minister noted a positive international reception to India's bid for a permanent seat on the UNSC.
• During bilateral discussions between the Prime Minister of India and the President of the USA, a joint statement emphasized India's stance on the need for a more inclusive and representative global governance structure through UN Security Council reform.
• In the same statement, the US expressed support for India's candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UNSC for the term 2028-2029.
• Beyond the US, other voices echo the call for expanding non-permanent UNSC membership.
• The Uniting for Consensus (UFC) group, comprising twelve nations, advocates for increasing the number of non-permanent elected UNSC members from 15 to 26.
• Formed in 1990, the UFC opposes creating new permanent national seats, arguing that the current P5 arrangement stems from post-World War 2 circumstances, and creating additional privileged positions would be detrimental to UN membership's general interests.
• Critics point out the inconsistency of Western nations, notably the US, a permanent UNSC member, advocating for democracy and counterterrorism while simultaneously excluding India, one of the oldest UN members and the largest democracy, from the P5.
• China presents the primary obstacle to India's pursuit of a permanent UNSC seat.

China's Influence on UNSC Reform Efforts:

• Italy-China Collaboration within UFC: In 2023, the Deputy Prime Minister of Italy engaged in discussions with his Chinese counterpart, focusing on bilateral agreements and the situation in Ukraine.
  • During this exchange, the Deputy Prime Minister of Italy commended the productive and consistent cooperation between China and Italy concerning UNSC reform, particularly their coordination within the Uniting for Consensus (UFC) group, where China holds an observer status.
  • The presence of China as an observer suggests dim prospects for those advocating genuine reforms and expansion of the P5.
• China's Opposition to the G4 Group: Also in 2023, the G4 Group, consisting of India, Brazil, Japan, and Germany, convened during the 78th UNGA to deliberate on the UN reform process, particularly focusing on expanding the P5.
  • Their objective is to modernize the UN's structure, which has its roots in the aftermath of World War 2.
  • However, opposition from China, Russia, and South Korea regarding Japan's participation in the G4 due to historical issues stemming from World War 2 has caused friction and disagreement among the countries involved.
• Acknowledging India's Role: Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru played a pivotal role in advocating for China's inclusion as a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Notably, both the US and the Soviet Union informally offered India the UNSC seat in the early 1950s.
  • Nehru emphasized China's significance within the framework of his foreign policy.
  • However, China's actions in Tibet and its conflict with India in 1962 shattered Nehru's perception of China's global role.
  • India now stresses the importance of resolving issues such as Tibet and territories like Xinjiang and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
  • As a permanent UNSC member, China should remember the circumstances that led to its membership and acknowledge its responsibilities to India.

Conclusion

The international community must acknowledge that without comprehensive restructuring and democratization, untethered from its historical constraints, the United Nations (UN) will struggle to address the complexities of contemporary geopolitics and foster genuine multilateralism. Without these reforms, the aspirations for peace and prosperity will remain elusive. What's urgently required is a revamped, credible, and inclusive UN 2.0 that can effectively safeguard global peace and security.

United Nations Security Council:

• The Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.
• It has 15 Members, and each Member has one vote.
• Under the Charter of the United Nations, all Member States are obligated to comply with Council decisions.
• The Security Council takes the lead in determining the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression.
• It calls upon the parties to a dispute to settle it by peaceful means and recommends methods of adjustment or terms of settlement.
• In some cases, the Security Council can resort to imposing sanctions or even authorizing the use of force to maintain or restore international peace and security.