Quest for a seat at ‘the’ Table – Security Council Permanency for India

One Individual may die for an idea, but that idea will after his death, incarnate itself in a thousand lives.

– Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose

Followed by a long period of colonisation by the British, India faced a devastating (and Bloody!) partition of its territory. It has been attacked five times by its neighbours and has been (and is still going through) a very long period of terrorist attacks on its soil by its enemies. Nevertheless, India has displayed immense restraint and has been trying to both – live in peace with its neighbours and trying to maintain peace in the world. India is the only country with racial, linguistic, cultural, religious, regional and political diversity, but is still unanimously united. And they say – “miracles don’t happen”!

A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new — when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance.

-Jawaharlal Nehru (‘Tryst with Destiny’)

I’m sure most readers would have just skipped these articles in the newspaper. I would have too! However, it seemed to rankle something within! So many lives lost?

To dwell in the past a bit……

India is one of the founding member of the United Nations.

On June 26, 1945, India was among 50 countries to sign the UN charter. India joined the United Nations after ratifying the UN Charter on October 30, 1945. It has been one of the central figures in restoring peace in the African region (focus of 75% of the UN’s problems for sometime now), providing funds, implementing strategies and fighting domestic and international wars on human rights. India has participated in UN peacekeeping missions since its inception.  It has also been a pre-dominant member providing peace keeping forces for the better part of the past century. India has contributed more peacekeepers to UN missions than any other country, and is also proud to have contributed the world’s first female peacekeeping force that served towards bringing peace in Liberia in 2007.

Nonetheless, India has been deprived of its deserved claim for a UNSC Permanent Member seat.

Criteria for membership of UNSC as a Permanent member –

During the current debate about additional non-elected (permanent) members of the Security Council, delegations often refer to a particular member state and evaluate if the state meets the requisite criteria. All too often, though, the attributes mentioned are extremely vague — such as “the ability to undertake global responsibilities.” But sometimes delegations mention more objective criteria — such as population size, wealth, contribution to UN peacekeeping operations, and other kinds of support for the UN (including timeliness of payment of budget assessments). The following table looks at how existing and aspirant “permanent” members measure up on some of the more commonly-mentioned criteria.

Assessment Payment Timeliness Criteria:
good = pays on time
fair = does not pay on time, but pays within the budget year — no major debts outstanding
poor= does not pay within the budget year — major debts outstanding

Where India is at an advantage:

India possesses a multitude of distinct characteristics which make its case for a permanent seat compelling.

Currently having a population of 1.28 billion, India will become the most populous country in the world by 2022. Such a large portion of the planet’s population cannot be altogether ignored or isolated from the strongest decision making table of the world – the UNSC permanent membership which gives the “veto” power.

India happens to be the fastest growing economy in the world making it an ideal destination for foreign investment and future growth.

Thirdly, India is ruled by a democratic, secular government which has never been upstaged by an army coup and can be labelled as a “responsible” nuclear power.

India also has troops participating in 14 missions of UNSC and The India army is ranked 2^nd in terms of active troops.

The India-UN Development Partnership Fund is a dedicated facility within the United Nations Fund for South-South Cooperation established in 2017. The India-UN Development Partnership Fund supports Southern-owned and led, demand-driven, and transformational sustainable development projects across the developing world, with a focus on least developed countries and small island developing states.

India is one of the top 20 contributors to the UN regular budget. India is gradually rising in this list.

India can be ranked as one of the most peace loving nations in terms of wars and external conflicts if such a ranking criteria existed! Unlike all the existing Permanent 5 members, India has never been a part of any controversial international conflict even after being a victim of numerous atrocities and terrorist activities.
Where India is at a disadvantage:

Poverty, Low literacy rate as well as sex discrimination are big issues in India. Due to this, India is not a leading donor of UN.

Riots showed failed attempt of India to be a secular country.

Although India does believe in Equity instead of equality. The Indian politicians/leaders do have a dirty habit of misusing this and therefore neglecting or ill-treating particular sections of the society. For example treating various strata of the society as vote banks or playing caste based politics. All this deepens the relationship between various classes.

Indian leaders and top business entrepreneurs have deeply corrupted the entire system.

India’s border dispute and continuous conflicts in bad faith with China (which holds veto power) and Pakistan has led the international community to believe its incompetence to maintaining peace with its neighbours.

Whilst India is one of the most tolerant and piece loving Nations, it might take decades for India to prove how India is capable to handle the Kashmir issue. Pakistan is bound to raise the issue of regional imbalance if India is in a position to acquire permanent membership and draw the world’s attention towards the persisting Indo-Pak conflict regarding Kashmir (Like Mr. Nawaz Sharif did in 2014 when he confronted President Barak Obama regarding the same).

Past Attempts:

India has almost all the credentials to become a permanent member of the Security Council and four permanent members, US, UK, France and Russia had extended support in the recent past.

The fifth member, China, has also “not publicly opposed it”.

On the issue of extending veto powers to new permanent members in their submission during the inter-governmental negotiations process of the 69th General Assembly, USA and UK opposed extension of veto to new members. France supported the extension while Russia and China did not make any submission on the issue.

Eyeing the Reformation of the United Nations Security Council:

The U.N. Security Council reform, being debated since two decades is too long overdue and the necessary expansion must be made considering how much the world has changed.

-Ban Ki Moon

Reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) encompasses five key issues: categories of membership, the question of the veto held by the five permanent members, regional representation, the size of an enlarged Council and its working methods, and the Security Council-General Assembly relationship.

Since its inception the G-4 countries have been trying there level best to attain this status and to carry out these reforms. The following table shows where the major countries stand to today:

*table source wikipedia

• Out of all the G-4 nations, India has the maximum members openly supporting it’s plea for a permanent seat at he UNSC.

India has waited too long. It’s time India was paid for its astounding growth, stunning diversity, breathtaking cultural depth, remarkable service to the UN and a bewildering love for tolerance and peace.

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