India’s long road to a permanent UNSC seat
India is campaigning for both a permanent and a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council. Securing a permanent seat requires significant changes to the UN structure, which are progressing slowly. India is seen as a key voice for the Global South and in the Indo-Pacific. Foreign Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, currently in New York for the UN meeting, has initiated the campaign for a non-permanent seat this year. In August 1950, the US proposed to India, through its ambassador, that it consider replacing China as a permanent UNSC member. Nehru reportedly dismissed this suggestion, missing India’s chance for permanent membership. However, the international situation was at the peak of the Cold War; the complexity may have justified his stance. New Delhi has been working for the seat for the past 30 years as part of its foreign policy goals. Over the years, many countries have supported India’s candidacy, recognising its growing influence, large population, and contributions to peacekeeping. However, changing the UNSC’s structure is complicated because it requires unanimous consent from the current five permanent members: the United States, Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom. Currently, there is no clear timeline for when, or if, India will achieve this goal. India believes the current UNSC structure no longer reflects modern realities. It argues that its status........
