Permanent membership of the UNSC is another story

Source: The post is based on an article “Permanent membership of the UNSC is another story” published in The Hindu on 28^th September 2022.

Syllabus: GS 2

Relevance: issues and challenges associated with the permanent membership of UNSC.

Context:  There are talks about the India becoming a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

UNSC remains the only exclusive club, where none of the new emerging countries has entered. Otherwise, even the exclusive Nuclear Club has been breached by India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel.

India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar has also called for the reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

What are the concerns associated with veto power?

The right to vote with permanent UNSC members has been a cause of concern for other countries. This power has been used frequently to block any attempt that goes against any of the permanent UNSC members. For example;

Western members have used their privileged position to protect Israel when the Palestinian question was being discussed.

Veto power was also used to prevent sanctions being imposed on the apartheid regime of South Africa.

The Russia has cast more vetoes than the three western members of UN. However, many times it has gone in favor of India as well. For example, Russia has helped India on many occasions on the question of Kashmir. Russia also helped India by vetoing unfavorable resolutions during the war of Bangladesh liberation in 1971.

However, considering the present situation, India cannot be sure of help from Russia in future on Kashmir issue or any other unfavorable occasion.

India cannot expect that Britain or America will cast a negative vote against Pakistan.

China is already hostile towards India. It can be seen in the Chinese blockade on the UNSC resolution against confirmed Pakistani terrorists in the sanctions list.

What are the challenges with permanent membership to India in UNSC?

None of the P-5 countries want any new member to be added to UNSC.

Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean are unrepresented in the permanent category at present. However, Africa is looking for two permanent seats and they are yet to decide which two African countries will be included.

There are four declared candidates for permanent membership: India, Japan, Brazil and Germany, called the G-4. There are concerns over the opposition of G-4 permanent membership. For example, China will not support India nor will it ever support Japan. Italy will oppose Germany.

Lastly, even if India is elected for permanent membership with full support, there will other countries along with India entering into the group.

What are the other challenges in the expansion of UNSC?

The UN charter will be amended if any new members are added in the UNSC.  Amending the charter involves two-thirds of the total membership of the U N including the votes of P-5.

There is also an enemy clause, present in Article 107 of the charter and there will be difficulty in amending this clause. The P-5 members will always oppose the enemy nations.

What can be the course of action?

A group of experts has suggested that a new category of semi-permanent members should be created.

Countries would be elected for a period of eight to 10 years and would be eligible for re-election. India should also give serious consideration to this idea.

Some experts are of the opinion that India should not accept permanent membership without the right of veto.

While some say that even a permanent membership without veto will be tremendously helpful in protecting our interests.