Does India Deserve A Permanent Seat In The Security Council of The United Nations|| The Need For A Change

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Does India Deserve A Permanent Seat In The Security Council of The United Nations?


Hey friend, how have you been? Hope you are doing well. Just by seeing the headline, you must have got an idea about today’s topic. In fact, nowadays it is one of the most trending topics. Does India deserve a permanent seat in the security council? This mighty question was again brought to light when our honourable prime minister, Shree Narendra Modi delivered a virtual speech on the 75th United Nations General Assembly Session 2020. So we will discuss the chances and the hurdles for India in getting a permanent seat in the UN. So let’s get started.

The Security Council Of  THE United nations

United Nations is an international body formed on 24th October 1945 which aims to bring international peace and security. Its headquarters is located in New York and its current secretary-general is Antonio Guterres. In present, 193 countries are members of the UN. The security council is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations. The Security Council consists of 15 members out of which 5 are permanent and 10 are non-permanent. The non-permanent members have a tenure of 2 years that are chosen through a procedure. The permanent members have a fixed seat in the Security Council. But the main power of these 5 countries is VETO. Veto is a special power only given to the permanent members. Through this Veto, one of any 5 members can restrict a resolution to pass in the UN. No matter how much majority is the resolution, but if any of the permanent members put a veto, the resolution gets dissolved. Today, these 5 countries are USA, Russia, France, UK and China. India is urging a seat in the permanent members but always gets a veto from UK and China.


Narendra Modi’s Speech in the 75th UNGA Session.

On 26th September Prime Minister Modi delivered a virtual speech during the 75th UNGA session. PM Modi firstly expressed his gratitude on behalf of India for being one of the founding nations of the UN. PM Modi then requested a serious introspection of the UN. He demanded reforms in it. The UN charter which was made according to the circumstances of 1945 is not relevant in today’s era. He mentioned that although the UN achieved various stellar achievements though, at the same time, the UN also holds various instances in which reforms are required. PM Modi also questioned the UN on its approach towards the COVID-19 pandemic, its approach towards dealing with terrorism. Modi stated that serious introspection of the UN’s work is the need of the hour. PM Modi also stated that Indians are seriously waiting for the reforms. PM Modi asked that for how long, would India be kept out of decision making structures? Modi also mentioned some of the roles of India at the UN which included the vaccine producing capability, Digitalization, Peacekeeping forces, etc. Hence, in a nutshell, PM Modi demanded reforms in the functioning of the UN and also requested for including India in the decision making structures, i.e. a permanent seat in the UN.


Why India should get a permanent seat?

1} India As The Founding Nation Of The UN

UN was founded in 1945. At that time, India was not independent. It was a colony of the UK. But despite that, India enrolled its name in UN in 1945, stating that if India would attain its independence than India would be counted as a member of the UN on the very first day of Independent India. This was the faith for the UN showed by the Indians. But despite this much faith, India is still struggling for a permanent seat in the UN.

2} India Motivated Other Countries

India not only joined the UN but also convinced several other countries to join the UN. In fact, when the UN was formed, India was one of the leading preachers of the UN. But even keeping in mind the result of this faith towards the UN

  3} World's Largest Democracy

UN works with an aim of universal peace. It believes in democracy. In fact, the UN urges all countries to choose democracy. But despite these, the UN hasn’t till now given a permanent seat to the world’s largest democracy i.e. INDIA. It is an element of irony, that an organization which works for democracy hasn't been given the seat to the world’s largest democracy but have given the seat to a non-democratic country i.e. China. How is this possible?

4} Peace

UN’s main objective is universal peace. But again the same irony makes its presence. Seeing India’s role in Peace, India deserves a lot more than it has got. India’s forces are the member of the UN peacekeeping forces. Till now, India has taken part in 49 peacekeeping missions. India has a contribution of more than 180,000 troops and was also the third-largest contributor in peacekeeping forces of the UN. India’s peacekeeping forces were lauded by the UN for its role in Korea, Indo-China, Middle East, Congo, Cambodia, Mozambique, Somalia, Rwanda, Angola, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Lebanon, Sudan, South Sudan, Golan Heights, Ivory Coast, Haiti, Liberia and many more. These are only some of the major missions of India. What the UN needs more? It is this India which is always ahead in his objectives but despite this, it didn’t get a permanent seat. Besides, we follow the path of peace before the UN was formed. We Indians believe in vasudhaiva kutumbakam. We haven’t got a permanent seat despite being a prominent contributor in universal peace.


      5} Terrorism

India is a country which has endured terrorism. But not even a single country can say that a terrorist organization from India have made a terror strike in any other country. India has made various strikes over many terrorist organizations such as Jaish e Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba and many more. It has also conducted various operations in Jammu & Kashmir and north-east. Not only in India but also international. India has also made strikes in Sri Lanka, Maldives, Somalia, etc. India since its inception has always been a leading voice to eradicate terrorism. But despite a leading stakeholder in countering terrorism, India has not got a permanent seat till date.

6} World Health Organization (WHO)

UN always says that they will make the world polio-free, they will fight against malaria. But from where do they get the medicines from? It is from India. In fact, India supplies 90% of the polio drops. India is also a leading exporter of malaria medicines. At present, India is a major stakeholder in vaccine production of COVID-19. AstraZeneca and Moderna are researching for a vaccine; Russia is working on Sputnik vaccine, China is working on Sinovac but all of them are contacting India for the production of a vaccine. The whole world is saying that India is much needed for vaccine production. But India being a major platform for the World Health Organization (WHO) is still kept out of the decision making body of the UN.

7} World Relations

Excluding China and Pakistan, India has glamorous relations with all the countries. The whole world is now divided into two blocs, either of USA or with Russia. But India is still a centrist country. This proves India to be a perfect diplomatic country. But still, we are not a part of permanent members of the UN.

Why India Shouldn't get a Permanent Seat?

(As Said By the UN)

There are numerous allegations which were put on India which said that India shouldn’t get a permanent seat. Let us discuss the major ones.

1) Non-Proliferation Act- was an act brought by the UN in 1968. This act said that from 1968, no country can arm itself with nuclear weapons. But if any nuclear weapon is made before 1968, the country can occupy it. India didn't sign the NPT 1968. India conducted its first nuclear test in 1974. Before 1974, India was not a Nuclear country. So if we would sign this treaty, then India would have lost its right to be a nuclear country while countries like Russia, the United States of America, United Kingdom, China will remain nuclear countries. So now, UN members especially China is saying that why should India get a permanent seat if it didn't have signed the NPT 1968 yet. But if India signs this treaty now, then India will have to dismantle all its nuclear weapons and will lose its status of a nuclear country. 

But this treaty can be sidelined for India because of India's own policies. We have openly declared that we will not use nuclear weapons for an offensive status. That means India will not make the first use of nuclear weapons. It should be only used for retaliation. This means India will never use nuclear weapons on the non-nuclear countries like Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh. India also said that India is ready to sign the treaty if all the other non-signatories of NPT 1968 are ready to sign it, i.e. Pakistan, North Korea, Israel and South Sudan. India also said that if the UN guarantees that all the non-signatories will sign the treaty including Pakistan, and the countries which till now possess nuclear weapons will also dismantle their weapons (countries which became a nuclear country before 1968) then only, India will be ready to sign it. But if only India will sign it, then can the UN guarantee that that the other non-signatories or nuclear countries before 1968 will not make use of nuclear weapons on India? And if we for a time will believe that, India is a non-signatory so it cannot get a permanent seat. So how did France get a permanent seat? It didn't sign the NPT when it was first released. It signed the NPT in 1992. And before that France was a permanent member of the UN. Wasn't this rule not applicable for France? So NPT 1968 is indirectly followed by India as India will not make the first use of nuclear weapons. India's nuclear weapons are meant for only retaliation. 


Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)- was an act enacted by the UN in 1996. It stated that a country from 1996 cannot organise a nuclear test in land, water or air. India has also not signed this treaty. India's nuclear test in Pokhran in 1998 was also controversial as many people said that it violated the CTBT. But how can India violate a law if India has till now not signed it? And many people also say that India despite being a non-signatory of CTBT, India has violated the law. How? Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam played a crucial role in it. CTBT stated that nuclear test should not be made on land, water or sea. So Kalam made the nuclear test underground. CTBT mentioned land, not soil. And land doesn't include underground but soils include. So CTBT 'as its states' have not been violated by India. India says that law is the same for all. India will not sign the act unless all the non-signatories are ready to sign it. 


Jammu and Kashmir issue- Countries like Pakistan and China often say that India should not get a permanent seat till the Jammu and Kashmir issue has been solved. And this problem is also often raised in the UN. But something contrary happened in 1950. When the Former Prime minister Shri Jawaharlal Nehru gave the Kashmir issue to the UN, it sent a committee of 10 to 15 members known as Dixon Commission to make a study of the Jammu and Kashmir issue. Dixon Commission arrived India in 1950 and made a report of Jammu and Kashmir and handed the report to the UN. The report clearly stated that Jammu Kashmir issue is not a global issue. It is a domestic issue of India and Pakistan. Any international organisation should not interfere with it. Now the question arises that if the UN itself stated that Jammu Kashmir is not a global issue than why the same Jammu Kashmir issue is dragged when debates over the permanent seat of India are going on? Wasn't it a domestic issue?


Budget-  It is often alleged that India provides a very less budget to the UN. And it is also a reality. India only provides 1% to 2% of the total United Nations budget. But the UN is now only looking for money. India, no doubt, provide a very less budget for the UN but there also lie many factors in which India takes a lead. As I already said, India is a major stakeholder in the WHO. UN every year takes millions of Polio drops of free of cost. UN also takes malaria medicines and medicines of other major diseases of free of cost. Are these not counted in money? In 2018, 94% of Malaria deaths were in alone Africa. From where did the UN provide basic healthcare to Africa? Doctors and medicines were sent to Africa from India free of cost on the name of the UN. Aren't these counted in money? Every year, many Indian army forces die in the UN peacekeeping missions. From where do these army officers get their salary, have their food in camps, get health care facilities? It is provided by India. And when these personnel get martyred, the UN only sends their bodies wrapped in tricolour. Does the UN provide even a single penny to their family? All the cost is made by the Indian govt. Everything has its own cost. If the UN only needs money and these papers, so-called money is only needed to be a higher stakeholder in the UN budget, then why not India cut down these facilities? Why not India cut these free medicines, free peacekeeping forces, free food? We can only give the money value of these amenities. A report states that if India cuts down all these activities and will only provide the money value than it can instead become a major contributor to the UN budget!! Should we do that? India is a leading provider of all the major expenses of the UN and the surprising fact is India is providing it with free of cost despite that, we are told that we are not giving enough budget. Also in the darkest hour of COVID-19 pandemic, India gifted Hydrochloroquinn Tablets to the world worth $5 million free of cost. And it also provided basic healthcare facilities to many countries. Shouldn't these be included in money?


What India Has Done Till Now To Get A Permanent Seat?


India has till now made many grave steps to get a permanent seat in the United Nations. In this, a crucial role was played by the former permanent representative of India in UN, Syed Akbaruddin. He counted these all points discussed above in a rigid way to the United Nations. Despite these, several steps were taken by the Indian government. Let us discuss some few major steps.

1. G-4 Nations: India, Brazil, Japan and Germany in 2005 formed a group named G-4. This group was formed to make a collective voice for getting a permanent seat in the United Nations. But, there is no guarantee that these all four G-4 nations will get a permanent seat. India is opposed by the United Kingdom and China, Brazil is opposed by the USA because of the recent bitter talks, Japan is strongly opposed by China due to business conflicts and also by Russia because of Japanese inclination towards the USA. Germany is also opposed by China and Russia because of trade conflicts. So these G-4 nations hold a mild chance to get a permanent seat.



2. Text-Based Negotiation (TBN): Text-Based Negotiation is a recent adaption of the United Nations. India as I already said, is demanding reforms in UN model. India is demanding that the UN should provide a Text-based Negotiation stating that on which date a meeting will be called for reforms in the UN. Verbally, there have been many talks regarding the reforms in the UN. United States of America is saying that it will reform the UN model for a decade. We now want a written agreement that reforms of the UN model will take place within one or two years.


3. Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR): Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) is a group of 35 countries. It states that only that countries which are a part of MTCR can buy or sell missiles with a range of more than 300km. India is a part of MTCR from 2016. This membership of MTCR is providing significant help to get a permanent seat. India has recently bought S-400 missiles from Russia as Russia and India both are a part of MTCR. But China is not a member of MTCR. Russia, therefore, denied the deal of S-400 to China. Recent conflicts with China have made China hungry for this S-400 missiles. It now wants to be a member of MTCR. The most important fact is India has got veto power in MTCR. So India can clearly deny the inclusion of China to MTCR. This is a big headache for China. As China's S-300 cannot compete with India's S-400. To add this headache, India is now selling its arms and ammunition to Vietnam, which is also arch-rival of China. So now, India is demanding a hand to hand offer. India is saying that if China doesn't put Veto on the inclusion of India in the permanent seat than India will also not put Veto in China's inclusion in MTCR.



Conclusion/ My Opinion

As you saw in the above post, India holds a prominent position for a candidate to be a permanent seat in the United Nations. No doubt, India has contributed a lot, which will be effective for India in future. There also rests the urgency of UN's model reforms. It is a true fact that the models made in 1945 is not relevant to today's circumstances. As monarchy is not prevalent in today's democratic era, in that way 1945's model are now outdated. The failures of the UN in many instances indicate that the UN now needs some reforms. United Nations is now a chariot of 5 horses whose rein is in the hands of five permanent members of the United Nations. The problem is these five nations are only from developed countries. They didn't reflect the true interests of underdeveloped or developing countries. For this, we may take the example of two instances. On 1990, when Iraq under the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein attacked a small country, Kuwait. It annexed the territory and made Kuwait under the rule of Iraq. But after that, UN interfered as annexation us strictly prohibited in the UN. As a result, Iraqi forces were bounded to leave the Kuwait territories. It was the typical role of the UN and was also a stellar achievement of UN. But in 1950, when China attacked Tibet and forcibly annexed it. At that time also, the UN approached and made a resolution. But China made a Veto. And till now, Tibet is a part of China. Both instances are contrary to each other. So, some underdeveloped and developing countries should also be given the power of veto for collective economic growth and universal peace which was its main objective. 


I hope you liked this post. Do tell your views in the comments section and do tell us how we can improve. A sincere apology for any mistakes. In the end, I would like to say, 'ENJOY READING'.



By- Dibyaansh Pradhan

 

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