‘Large Parts of World Cannot Be Left Behind’: EAM Jaishankar Calls For More Representative UN

New Delhi: As India continues to receive backing from several countries over its bid to be included in the UN Security Council, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday emphasized that voices from around the world have to be heard at the UN adding that the world needs a United Nations that is more "representative," "pluralistic," and "fit for purpose" which is crucial for today’s global order.  

Addressing the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, Jaishankar said that large parts of the world cannot be left behind over key global issues, and that the UN cannot remain “anachronistic”. 

“Global order is inherently pluralistic and diverse. The UN began with 51 members and now we are 193. The world has changed profoundly and so have its concerns and opportunities. To strengthen the order itself it is essential that the UN becomes a central platform to find common ground and that cannot be done if it remains anachronistic,” Jaishankar said. 

UN Has To Become More Representative, Fit-For-Purpose

“Large parts of the world cannot be left behind when it comes to deciding key issues of our times,” he added.  

Jaishankar said that an efficient, more representative, and fit-for-purpose UN in the contemporary era is essential. 

“Let us send out a clear message from this UNGA session that we are determined not to be left behind,” he said. 

US, UK Backs India's UNSC Bid

EAM Jaishankar's remarks can also be viewed in light of ongoing calls to revamp the UN Security Council, with numerous countries supporting India's inclusion. 

Earlier, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer joined the leaders of the US and France in backing India’s bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to make it a more representative body that is not “paralysed by politics”.

During his speech at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Thursday, Starmer called for reforms to ensure the global multilateral system is “more representative and more responsive”. 

Besides permanent representation for India, Africa, Brazil, Japan and Germany, the UK also made a pitch for more seats for elected members of the Security Council.

“We need to make the system more representative and more responsive to those who need it most,” said Starmer.

It follows President Joe Biden reiterating the US stance in favour of such an expansion of the UNSC, which comprises five permanent members and 10 non-permanent member countries – elected for a two-year term by the General Assembly of the United Nations. The five permanent members are Russia, the UK, China, France, and the United States, which have the power to veto any substantive UN resolution.

India has been at the forefront of efforts at the UN to push for urgent long-pending reform of the Security Council, emphasising that it rightly deserves a place at the UN high table as a permanent member. India argues that the 15-nation council founded in 1945 is not fit for purpose in the 21st Century and does not reflect contemporary geo-political realities.

India last sat at the UN high table as a non-permanent member in 2021-22. There has been a growing demand to increase the number of permanent members to reflect the contemporary global reality.