India Deserves VETO POWER in UN Security Council

New Delhi: India has chaired G-20 Summit  of the world’s top leadership, with aplomb. While the world leaders enjoyed the Indian ‘hospitality par excellence’ at New Delhi, they were subtly given the message that   India has arrived at the world stage. The world’s who & who were present except the  Chinese President,  Xi Jinping, who was absent for ‘no reason at all’ and Russian Premier, Mr.  Vladimir Putin who was too occupied with the never ending Ukraine War.

India’s pivotal role in global geopolitics got further underlined by successful Presidency of G20, after many success stories like ‘Chandrayaan -3’ and ‘Mission Mangal’ scripted by  India, in this century. The oldest living civilization and the largest democracy in the world rightfully deserves  a permanent seat in the top world forum (UNSC).

GENESIS of UNSC:  United Nations was formed in the aftermath of World war II , in 1945 as the world was in ruins after thousands of deaths and destruction. The Security Council, the United Nations’ principal crisis-management body, is empowered to impose binding obligations on the member states to maintain peace.

The victorious countries of the WWII were given permanent  seat in  UNSC with VETO powers in all world affairs. These five powerful countries were USA, USSR, UK, France and China. The primary  reasons for selection of these P-5 were as follows-

• All five were major powers  after World War-II
• Only Nuclear Powers as per NPT.
• They controlled 60% expenditure on global defence budget.
• They are amongst top 10 Largest defence exporters.

NEED FOR REFORMS: UNO and UNSC also have to change with times, to honour the changing dynamics of the emerging world order. Structurally, the UN and UNSC remains largely unchanged since its founding in 1945, stirring debate  amongst members about the need for reforms.  75 years is a long time in the changing kaleidoscope of the world. The world has changed from Bipolar to Unipolar and now Multipolar with decline of so called super powers and emergence of new power blocks.

The following aspects merit consideration for reforms in UN and UNSC-

• Undemocratic Representation. UNSC is considered undemocratic with limited representation of large part of world like South Asia, Africa, Latin America, Middle East, Central Asian Republics,  Pacific Region countries etc.

• Diminishing P-5. UK, France and Russia are diminishing world powers and cannot be considered as mighty five. India, Japan, Germany, Israel and Brazil are coming up as developing countries and regional powers. 

• Dynamics of Global Geopolitics. The Emerging new world order and aspirations of regional powers also have to be factored in.
• Lack of Global Governance. It is felt that UNSC lacks  global governance. There are no answers to global problems sans borders like terrorism, cyber security, drugs cartels, crypto currency and natural disasters etc.
• Misuse of VETO Power. It is often felt that the UN agenda is high-jacked by the UNSC permanent members, who misuse their veto powers for furtherance of their national interests rather than enforcing global governance or ‘Rule Based Order’ in the world.

REFORMS PROCEDURE The UNSC composition and powers can only be changed by UN reforms methodology. There has been long outstanding demands to undertake those reforms. The Procedure for UN reforms  is as follows-

• Resolution has to be adopted by 2/3 members of UN General Assembly.
• The same has to be ratified by constitutional process in  2/3 member countries of UN.
• Finally, it has to be approved by UNSC by majority vote and no veto by P-5. Here lies the catch, because why should all P-5 members agree to axe their feat and curtail or share the  powers, bestowed upon them by UN Charter.

INDIA’s CLAIM TO P-5  STATUS: (Shining India). In  the 21^st Century, India stands at the door of UNSC knocking for a rightly deserved place on the P-5 table. The following points merit India’s claim to UNSC permanent membership-

• Largest Population. India is having the largest population with 19 % of  world population share. It’s also the Youngest country.  Therefore, it represents a large chunk of world’s youngest population which needs proper representation.

• Mature Democracy. India is the oldest and largest functional democracy with stable credentials in the world. Approx 100 crore voters will be taking part in next General Elections in 2023. The gigantic exercise with mammoth magnitude is conducted to ‘6 Sigma’ perfection every five years.
• Economic Power. India is the Fifth largest (GDP) economy  and fastest growing large economy. It will soon be third largest economy with $ 05 trillion GDP.
• Military Might. India is a peace loving country with fourth most powerful armed forces as a ‘Force of Deterrence’. We are a mature Nuclear Power with second strike capability. India has the Third largest Air Force and Blue water Navy with two Aircraft Carriers.  Also India is a growing Aerospace power with  Anti satellite weapons capability.
• Friendly Soft Power. India has been at the forefront in all humanitarian aids across the globe. India  has also contributed significantly towards saving the planet Earth, avoiding pollution, promoting green energy and reducing carbon footprints. India has promoted wellness of body, mind and soul by focusing on Yoga, Pranayam,  Ayurveda and spirituality.  

• Most Digital Savvy Country. India is the largest consumer of data in the world with largest no of digital transactions per day. The growth engines of India are fired by the digital savvy new generation, promoting financial transactions online and innovative use of AI for health care, education   and industrial growth.

Contribution Towards UN.    India is a founder member of UNO and it  has actively participated and positively contributed to all UN lead activities for the last 75 years.  The following points are noteworthy-

• It is the largest contributor of defence forces and police personnel towards UN Peace Keeping. In 2022, it contributed over 2,00,000 troops towards UN Peace Keeping.

• It is also amongst largest contributor to UN activities giving a large sum of over $ 40 Million per year. It’s significant when many nations are defaulting on payment of their share towards this organization.

• It’s always the first responder in case of natural calamities in the world. India’s efforts of supplying medicines and vaccines to 101 countries during COVID was applauded by the world.

• India has been elected member of UNSC for 08 terms. It has already announced it’s candidature for 2028-29 term again.
• India has been a leading voice on environmental and social issues like climate change, disarmament, human rights violations, women empowerment, crime against children and girl child protection.
• India dons the  leadership of developing countries by being members of large no of regional groups like  G15, G20, QUAD, BRICS, BIMSTEC, ASEAN, ICC, IMF, MTCR,  SCO, SAARC, WTO
• India has a huge Diaspora working across the globe and their interests have to be protected. Also,  expansion of Indian economic footprints across it’s frontiers necessitates   that country should have reasonable say in the world affairs to protect it’s national interests.

CHALLENGES: The permanent seat for India at P-5 table of UNSC has to come through reforms in the UN Charter. India is part of P-4 countries namely India, Brazil, Japan and Germany who are demanding reforms to become permanent members of UNSC. Procedure for UN reforms resolution is that it has to be adopted by 2/3 members of UN General Assembly, followed by it’s ratification as per constitution by 2/3 members of UN. Thereafter, it has to be approved by UNSC, without VETO.

India will be able to sail through the first two steps. India’s election to UNSC in 2021-22 was with overwhelming superiority wherein 184 members out of 193 voting in it’s favour. That also indicates India’s popularity as a favourite choice for UNSC. When it comes to UNSC, four out of Five permanent members have endorsed India’s claims to Permanent membership with exception of China. China is likely to veto the proposal, notwithstanding the fact that India had once declined this seat,  in favour of  China, when offered by USA and USSR in 1950s. 

CONCLUSION: India’s meteoric rise in world forum in 21^st Century and it’s friendly contributions towards Aims and Charter of UNO, makes it a deserving case for permanent membership of UNSC. Vested interests of the existing members may sabotage the justified claim of India, as of now but will not be able to do it for  long. Certainly, this century belongs to India and the world may ignore this fact for sometime, albeit at it’s own peril.

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Maj Gen C P Singh, (Retd.)  is a scholar soldier accredited with MA, MSc, LLB, MBA, M Phil (Def Mgt.) and M Phil (International Strategic Affairs).

Widely travelled in India and Abroad, the General Officer is an avid reader and   prolific writer.

Post retirement, he is a Social Activist, Career Consultant and a Motivational Speaker of repute.

The author can be  contacted at www.majgencpsingh.com