India’s Campaign Brochure for UNSC Seat | 06 Jun 2020

Why in News

Recently, India has released a campaign brochure ahead of the vote for the non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in 2021-22.

  • This will be the eighth time India will occupy a non-permanent UNSC seat, with its last term in 2011-2012.
  • India also seeks for a permanent membership in the UNSC.
    • India along with other countries of G4 grouping (Japan, Brazil and Germany) is asking for a spot for permanent membership in UNSC.
    • Five permanent members: China, France, the Russian Federation, the UK and the USA.

Key Points

  • India is guaranteed a place as it is the sole candidate for Asia-Pacific but needs two-thirds of the 193-member General Assembly to vote in its favour in a secret ballot scheduled for 17th June, 2020 in New York (USA).
  • Issues Highlighted:
    • International governance has been under increasing strain due to traditional and non-traditional security challenges. Terrorism is one of the most cited examples.
    • Unreformed and under-representative global institutions and the Covid-19 pandemic with its economic impact has increased challenges for the UNSC.
  • India’s Solutions:
    • Its objective will be the achievement of N.O.R.M.S: a New Orientation for a Reformed Multilateral System.
    • India will highlight international terrorism, United Nations reforms and Security Council expansion, streamlining the peacekeeping operations and technology initiatives during its upcoming tenure.
  • Background:
    • Since 2013, India has been planning for a seat in 2021 as the year will mark its 75th year of Independence.
    • Identifying an uncontested spot is not an easy task.
    • However, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan agreed to set aside for the 2021-22 seat, in a friendly gesture.
    • India also persuaded the Asia-Pacific grouping nomination by diplomacy and negotiations to avoid any last-minute contenders against India.
      • India was able to win a unanimous endorsement from the 55-nation grouping that included both China and Pakistan, in June 2019.
    • However, winning the maximum votes at the General Assembly this time will be a little hard for India due to:

Selection of Non-permanent Members of Security Council

  • Each year, the General Assembly elects five non-permanent members (out of ten in total) for a two-year term. The ten non-permanent seats are distributed on a regional basis:
    • Five for African and Asian countries.
    • One for Eastern European countries.
    • Two for Latin American and Caribbean countries.
    • Two for Western European and other countries.
  • Article 23 of the UN Charter concerns the composition of the Security Council.
  • Other Contenders for Other Seats:
    • Mexico is expected to be elected unopposed for the Latin American group.
    • Canada, Ireland and Norway will contend for two seats of the West European and Others Group (WEOG).
    • Kenya and Djibouti will contend for an African seat.

Way Forward

  • India for long has been of the view that the UNSC sought to be reformed by expansion in its permanent membership and non-permanent membership as well.
  • India has been acknowledged as a rising power by most of the states. Also, there is a pressing need to democratize multilateral fora, starting from the United Nation system itself. In this context, India is making a legitimate claim for its rightful place in the changing architecture of global governance, including the UNSC.

Source: TH