India has reiterated its call for comprehensive reforms within the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), emphasizing the need for changes across several key areas, including membership categories, regional representation, council size, working methods, and the use of veto power. Speaking at the United Nations, India’s Permanent Representative, Parvathaneni Harish, underscored that these reforms should be addressed collectively rather than isolating the veto issue.
Harish highlighted that the veto power, currently held exclusively by the five permanent members of the Security Council— the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China— carries significant responsibility and should be used with restraint. He pointed out that the use of veto should not serve narrow political interests and expressed concerns that its disproportionate use by a few countries has undermined the council’s credibility and effectiveness.
Since the inception of the United Nations, the veto has been exercised 331 times, with the majority of vetoes or threats stemming from three of the five permanent members, as noted by Harish. He also referenced a 2022 initiative aimed at improving accountability, which requires the UN General Assembly to convene a debate whenever a veto is cast.
India argued that any new framework for permanent membership must ensure equal rights and responsibilities among members, including access to veto power. Harish warned that creating a separate category of permanent members without equivalent veto rights could further complicate the reform process.
Additionally, India reaffirmed its support for the Common African Position, a unified approach by the African Union to reform the Security Council. This call for reform aligns with India’s broader push for a more representative and accountable Security Council, better equipped to address contemporary global challenges.