India on Monday stated that the input from intergovernmental negotiations for the ‘Summit of the Future’ (SOTF) fell short in adequately addressing critical issues concerning UN Security Council reforms and its expansion.
India’s permanent representative to the UN, Parvathaneni Harish, emphasized that India’s approach to the pact for the future aligns with its vision for inclusive and sustainable development. He referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address at the Summit of the Future in New York last month, noting that “reform is the key to relevance.”
Harish expressed that his delegation had hoped for a more ambitious Chapter Five, stating that the intergovernmental negotiations leading to the Summit did not adequately address critical issues regarding UN Security Council reforms and expansion.
Harish further expressed disappointment that the views of a majority of UN member states were not clearly captured, particularly regarding the expansion of the Security Council in both permanent and non-permanent categories and the initiation of text-based negotiations within a fixed timeframe. He stated, “On this aspect, we believe the pact definitely falls short.”
The Ambassador emphasized that “global action must now match global ambition” and reaffirmed India’s support for global digital governance. He highlighted India’s active and constructive engagement in the consultations over the past year and a half, noting that India skillfully led this complex process during challenging times. Under the civilizational vision of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, or “the world is one family,” India has contributed to making the pact more human-centric and amplifying the voice of the Global South.
India’s approach to the pact aligns with its broader vision for inclusive and sustainable development, as articulated in the ‘Viksit Bharat’ initiative aimed at achieving a prosperous India by 2047. Harish stressed the importance of addressing human welfare, food security, health security, energy security, and climate finance while prioritizing sustainable development. He pointed out that the evasion of climate action responsibilities by developed nations undermines the growth prospects of developing countries.
He acknowledged that while there has been progress in the language surrounding the reform of international financial architecture, more needs to be done. He noted that the G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration and the pact for the future converge on key principles, such as making the international financial system more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient, while also advocating for stronger and more democratic global financial institutions.
Furthermore, Harish commended the strong message condemning terrorism in the pact, highlighting it as a serious threat to global peace and security. He indicated that new arenas of conflict, such as cyber, maritime, and space, are emerging. He reiterated the need for global action to match global ambition, stating that India supports global digital governance, which upholds national sovereignty and integrity. He envisions a comprehensive framework for the development, deployment, and governance of digital public infrastructure through an open and inclusive process.
Notably, India has long sought a permanent seat on the Security Council to better represent the interests of the developing world, a quest that has gained momentum with increasing support from the international community.
The UNSC is composed of 15 member states, including five permanent members with veto power and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.
The five permanent members of the UNSC include China, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and the United States. The non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council are elected for 2-year terms by the UNGA.
(With ANI inputs)