Among the several tangibles of the successful G20 summit held in New Delhi last week, the most notable one is the elevation of India’s stature as a strong economy and an established power capable of playing a leading role in world affairs. India’s position as the fourth-largest economy, the successful landing of Chandrayaan 3, which signifies India’s technological prowess, and other significant achievements have cleared New Delhi’s path to positions in the higher echelons of global order.
One such position is the permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), where, if admitted, it would rub shoulders with the current five – the US, China, Russia, France, and the UK. In a way, India has risen far above some of the P5 countries and is more than qualified to either replace one of them or become P6.
The successful G20 summit, with its laudable outcomes, deft negotiations, and balancing of power equations, sufficiently amplifies New Delhi’s capabilities to deal with global issues adroitly. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was a litmus test for India to iron out the differences and build consensus among countries that have taken extreme stands on the conflict. That the Delhi Declaration skirted contentious issues and yet amplified India’s concerns is a strong proof of our negotiating skills.
The inclusion of the African Union (AU) representing 55 countries as the 21st member of the prestigious G20 is one of the greatest achievements of India showcasing our commitment to the creation of an inclusive world order.
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India deserves UNSC seat
Rightly so, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated India’s claim for the membership of the UNSC during his speech at the ‘One Future’ session of the G20 summit before he ceremonially handed over the presidency to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. India has played a crucial role in furthering the aims and objectives of the United Nations (UN) as one of its founding members. India gives the UN over $40 million every year, which helps support the organisation’s peacekeeping operations, humanitarian efforts, and its promotion of human rights.
India is one of the 53 member states that have paid their regular budget assessments in full within the 30-day due period. India has contributed nearly 195,000 troops (the largest from any country), participated in more than 49 missions, and 168 Indian peacekeepers have made the supreme sacrifice while serving in UN missions. India is also the second-largest troop contributor with 7,676 personnel deployed in 10 out of 16 active UN Peacekeeping Missions of which 760 are police personnel.
India played a key role in the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change, which sought to limit global temperature increase and encourage reducing carbon emissions. This was followed by the adoption of five policy frameworks (Panchamrit strategy, increasing non-fossil energy capacity, renewable energy use, reducing carbon emissions, and achieving net zero by 2070). As part of the G20 agenda, India had proposed the unique game-changer Lifestyle for the Environment movement (LiFE) included in the Delhi Declaration.
During his first visit to India as President of the US for the G20 summit, Joe Biden lauded activities undertaken as part of India’s G20 presidency and reaffirmed his support for a reformed UNSC with India as a permanent member. This support no doubt strengthens India’s persistent efforts to reform the UNSC and secure its rightful place as a permanent member.
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What’s the caveat now?
But New Delhi needs to ponder how serious is the White House in taking its support to its logical conclusion. In 2010, then-President Barack Obama, while speaking at the Indian Parliament, had said, “In the years ahead, I look forward to a reformed United Nations Security Council that includes India as a permanent member.” Then-White House deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes, while explaining Obama’s speech, assured India that “this was a full endorsement” for India’s permanent membership of a reformed UNSC.
But all these assurances came with standard riders that India should play a more active and responsible role in international affairs, which meant openly aligning with the US policies of imposing sanctions on Iran and Myanmar. Obama also warned that India would have to play a more responsible role in international affairs, such as pressuring Myanmar to embrace democracy. He said: “India has often shied away from some of these issues. But speaking up for those that cannot do so for themselves is not interfering in the affairs of other countries.” India has already paid a huge price by losing strategic and economic space to China by supporting US sanctions on Iran and Myanmar.
There is very little doubt that the current UNSC far from represents today’s geopolitical realities. Constituted immediately after World War-II, the P5 appears to be the Jurassic version of a past that neither has relevance nor utility for the conflicts and engagements of a new age. One of the biggest impediments in India’s acceptance as a permanent member of the UNSC with veto right is China, which will never want New Delhi to gain that status. Chinese President Xi Jinping’s decision to skip the G20 summit portends to the hardening of China’s position in global affairs, especially in the context of India-US proximity in security and strategic issues. Can India convince the White House now or later with probably another occupant to stand up to Beijing’s bullying tactics against New Delhi? It will be in the best interests of the US, UN and the world community to have India on the UNSC high table as P6.
Seshadri Chari is the former editor of ‘Organiser’. He tweets @seshadrichari. Views are personal.
(Edited by Prashant)