“India Advocates for Security Council Reforms Highlighting Consensus Achieved at G20 Summit”
United Nations: India has emphasized the need for reforms within the Security Council, citing the broader consensus reached at the G20 Summit on issues that have stalled within the UN’s primary decision-making body.
“Many issues that remain unresolved at the United Nations Security Council have found progress and solutions outside of it,” stated India’s Permanent Representative, Ruchira Kamboj, during a General Assembly meeting marking the second anniversary of its Veto Initiative. This initiative requires Security Council permanent members to justify their use of vetoes.
Kamboj pointed to last year’s G20 summit in New Delhi, presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as an example. “Without evolving the composition of the permanent membership to reflect current global realities, genuine diplomatic dialogue will not be able to address our challenges,” she added.
Despite the ongoing Ukraine War, now in its third year, the polarized Security Council has failed to take action. In contrast, the G20 Summit, which included both adversaries and allies of the Council, reached a consensus on Ukraine. The consensus stated that “all states must refrain from the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state” and declared that “the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible”.
This broader consensus was achievable due to the G20’s inclusive membership and the equal participation of all countries involved.
The Veto Initiative, adopted in a General Assembly resolution in 2022, was a response to the Security Council’s inaction on Ukraine due to vetoes.
UN General Assembly President Dennis Francis emphasized the need for Security Council reform, stating, “Given its current state of paralysis, we must intensify efforts to reform the Council, enhancing its ability to fulfill its responsibilities.”
“I urge member states, particularly those on the Council, to use this debate as an opportunity to bridge divisions and seek effective solutions by engaging more with the General Assembly,” he added.
Kamboj highlighted the Security Council’s “dysfunctionality” and the use of the veto, attributing it to the “binary nature” of the Council’s membership. She stated, “The Council’s decisions are made in a vintage ‘cold war’ mode and do not reflect contemporary realities.”
She further noted, “Today, it is evident that the majority of member states, including those not independent at the time of the UN Charter’s drafting, support reform and feel unrepresented in the Security Council’s decisions.”
Kamboj criticized the “hidden veto” obstructing Security Council reform, where a minority of member states are hindering progress by demanding consensus before negotiations, thereby preventing the adoption of a negotiating text.
She also pointed out the lack of transparency in the Security Council’s operations, specifically mentioning the Security Council’s Sanction Committee. Members frequently place “holds and blocks” on actions against terrorists without providing explanations, with China notably using this tactic to shield terrorists backed by Pakistan.
