Two-Tier UNSC Reform and G4 Proposal on UNSC Reforms

News: India has firmly opposed the creation of a “two-tier” system of permanent membership in a reformed UNSC and express support for a compromise proposal by the G4 group.

About Two-Tier UNSC Reform and G4 Proposal on UNSC Reforms

About Two-Tier UNSC Reform

• The United Nations recently proposed a two-tier permanent membership level in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
• Under this system, a new category of permanent members will be created without veto rights.
• This is proposed as a way to “expand” the Council without changing the decision-making authority of the five permanent members (P5).
• India’s stand
  • This reform was opposed by India on the rationale that the creation of a new category of permanent members without veto powers would complicate negotiations that involve wide-ranging views and would further institutionalise unequal representation. 
  • Outdated structure: India also emphasised that the current structure of the UNSC, which was designed over 80 years ago, is no longer reflecting the contemporary geopolitical realities.
  • India also raised the issue of the “effective veto” as there have been instances in the past where elected members have created hurdles by exercising their effective veto on Council products only to serve their narrow vested interests.
    • Effective veto: It is veto power enjoyed by every United Nations Security Council member, elected and non-elected, on products/outcomes such as the Security Council presidential statements, the Press Statements and Sanctions Committees.
• Reform suggested by the G4 group
  • The G4 group proposed a compromise proposal that newly added permanent members would not exercise the veto until a decision on the matter is reached during a 15-year review.
  • This proposal aimed at breaking the longstanding deadlock in negotiations on UNSC reforms.

About G4 Grouping

• About: The G4 is a coalition of four nations –
  • India, Brazil, Germany, and Japan seeking permanent membership in the UNSC.
• Formation: It was formed in 2005.
• Objectives: Key objectives of the G4 include:
  • Expansion of both permanent and non-permanent categories of UNSC membership, allowing for more equitable representation.
  • Securing permanent membership for themselves, while supporting reforms that would also enhance the representation of Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America in the Council.
  • Addressing the stagnation in the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) process on Security Council reform and pushing for the start of text-based negotiations to expedite the reform process.