During his address at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron endorsed India’s inclusion as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Macron also backed the addition of Brazil, Japan, Germany, and two African nations to make the UNSC more inclusive and representative.
“Let’s make the UN more efficient and representative,” Macron said, advocating for the expansion of the Security Council to include permanent seats for Germany, Japan, India, Brazil, and two African countries chosen by the continent itself.
Currently, only five nations the US, China, Russia, France, and the UK hold permanent seats at the UNSC. While countries like France and the US have supported India’s bid for a permanent position, China remains opposed.
Macron’s call mirrors sentiments expressed after the Quad Leaders’ Summit in Delaware, where leaders from the US, India, Australia, and Japan advocated for comprehensive reform of the UN, including expanding representation to reflect global diversity.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also voiced concerns over the lack of geographical balance in the UNSC, pointing out the exclusion of entire continents like Africa and Latin America and questioning the council’s legitimacy when populous countries like India are not permanent members.
India has been elected as a non-permanent member of the UNSC eight times, most recently for the 2021-22 term. However, unlike permanent members, non-permanent members do not hold veto power.