'Hard nuts can be cracked': EAM Jaishankar showcases India's resolve for UNSC reform

India has been pushing for reforms in United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for a while w and country's stance was reiterated by External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar during an interview at Lowy Institute in Australia.

Speaking about potential reforms, Jaishankar, when asked if reforms are "a hard nut to crack", agreed and ded that "hard nuts can be cracked".

UNSC is one of six main bodies of United Nations and it has 15 members out of which five (China, Russia, US, France and UK) are permanent whereas ten are n-permanent on a rotational basis for two years. India's n-permanent membership started in 2020 and will end in December this year. 

reforms being talked about here are expanding number of permanent and n-permanent members at UNSC. However, re has been progress regarding expansion owing to immense power enjoyed by permanent members who can veto resolutions brought in for reforms.

"When I look back and think, well, this one is too difficult, I won't be doing too much in my life. Life has been a set of challenges particularly for a country like India," Jaishankar said. "I would t let difficulties of challenge discour me. I'd put it or way around," he ded. 

External Affairs Minister also underscored that UNSC has t properly helped certain countries with ir problems. He also asserted that apart from India, "re are whole continents today which actually feel that Security Council processes do t take into account ir interests." 

"If you go to a UN General Assembly and talk to countries in Africa and Latin America, and small island states, quite apart from Asia, you feel very very strongly that this is t ir UN and I think this is damaging to UN," he ded. He also called out US President Joe Biden about whom he earlier said that has offered “most explicit and specific” support on matter. 

India & Brazil strong contenders for UNSC permanent seat

India and Brazil are considered strongest contenders for a permanent seat at UNSC, as was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov during recent UN General Assembly in New York. Apart from se two, Japan and Germany also have aspirations for a permanent seat. However, as Jaishankar believes, India has support of several countries as it speaks for global good. 

"A lot of countries think we speak for m with a high degree of empathy and accuracy," Jaishankar h said during his dress at Columbia University in September.