Countries who feel neighbours may have chance to become UNSC member oppose its expansion: India

Wed Nov 20 07:45:55 UTC 2024: ## India Expresses Frustration Over Slow Pace of UN Security Council Reform

**New York, November 20, 2024** – India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, has voiced India’s dissatisfaction with the sluggish progress on reforming the UN Security Council. Speaking at Columbia University on Tuesday, Ambassador Harish stated that the current structure, a relic of 1945, fails to reflect modern global realities.

While acknowledging widespread agreement on the need for reform and expansion of the Council, Ambassador Harish highlighted the resistance from certain countries. Some nations, he explained, prefer the status quo, while others vehemently oppose expanding the permanent membership, fearing their neighbors might gain seats. This resistance, he noted, is driven by national self-interest. Pakistan, a member of the “Uniting for Consensus” group, is among those opposing permanent seats for India and other G4 nations (Brazil, Germany, and Japan).

Despite this resistance, France, Russia, the UK, and the US have expressed support for India’s bid for a permanent seat. China, while acknowledging the need for reform, criticized certain countries for pursuing self-serving agendas in the process.

Ambassador Harish described the reform process as “very difficult and complex,” expressing India’s frustration with the lack of progress over the past 15-16 years. He urged the co-chairs of the Inter-Governmental Negotiation process to accelerate the reforms. While acknowledging the challenges, he emphasized India’s continued commitment to achieving a more representative and effective multilateral system.

In a broader address outlining India’s approach to global challenges, Ambassador Harish championed a proactive, multilateralist strategy focused on collaboration and engagement with diverse partners. He characterized India’s approach as one that avoids dogma, embraces calculated risk-taking, and seeks to bridge the gap between developed and developing nations. He highlighted India’s role as a bridge between developed and developing nations, emphasizing its commitment to participatory institution building and its pursuit of a multipolar world. The speech also noted that India did not sign a letter of support for the UN Secretary-General after a ban by Israel.