India’s Permanent Membership in UNSC Gains Momentum as UK PM Backs Bid

New York: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday endorsed India’s bid for permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), joining the growing international support after similar statements by US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron. Starmer, speaking at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, emphasised the need to reform the UNSC to make it “more representative.”

Currently, the UNSC consists of five permanent members—Russia, the UK, China, France and the US—who hold veto power, alongside 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.

“We want to see permanent African representation on the Council, and we also support Brazil, India, Japan and Germany becoming permanent members, with additional seats for elected members,” Starmer said during his address.

A day earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated his support for India’s inclusion in the UNSC, highlighting the need to make the UN more effective and representative. Macron called for the expansion of the UNSC to include Germany, Japan, India, Brazil and two African nations.

US President Joe Biden had also voiced his support for India’s permanent membership during discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Wilmington, Delaware, last Saturday. Biden stressed the need for global institutions, including the UNSC, to reflect the evolving geopolitical landscape.

India has long advocated for reforms to the UNSC, asserting that the 15-member body, established in 1945, does not adequately represent modern global realities. India last held a non-permanent seat on the UNSC in 2021-2022.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has also warned that without reforms, the UNSC risks losing its credibility, calling it “outdated” and ineffective in its current structure.