India has attacked countries that are against the UN Security Council’s (UNSC) permanent seat extension, calling them “status quoists” with a “narrow focus” and a “non-progressive approach.” During a Security Council meeting that China led, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, made this declaration.
Such opposition is no longer acceptable, Harish emphasized, adding that the Global South—including India—deserves adequate representation in the UN system.
Harish outlined three key ideas in his speech that are necessary for UNSC reforms to be successful:
Both permanent and non-permanent categories should see an increase in membership.
There should be a commencement of text-based negotiations regarding these reforms.
To guarantee progress, ambitious deadlines must be connected to tangible results.
Harish repeated India’s longtime appeal for revamping the UNSC, stating that the current structure reflects a historical backdrop that is outmoded and does not correspond with contemporary geopolitical realities. He pointed out that the UNSC, created in 1945 with only 51 member states, currently contains 193 nations, underscoring the need for a more representative council.
Furthermore, he emphasized that the core of these reforms should be redressing past injustices that Africa has experienced. India has continuously backed the Common African Position and asked nations that show solidarity with Africa to make clear their position on increasing the number of permanent members of the UNSC.
Finally, India reiterates its dedication to collaborating with partners to advance these reforms, stressing that adjustments are necessary for the UN to stay relevant and
