UK PM backs India's bid for permanent UN Security Council seat

During his address at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his support for India’s inclusion as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). He highlighted the importance of transforming the UNSC into a more representative and action-driven body, free from political paralysis. Starmer emphasized that reforming the Security Council was critical for ensuring global peace and stability.

This statement from the UK Prime Minister comes in the wake of similar endorsements by US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron. Both leaders have also voiced their support for India, Brazil, Japan, and Germany, to be included as permanent members of the UNSC. These calls signal growing international momentum for reforms within the Security Council.

Currently, the UNSC consists of five permanent members—Russia, the United States, China, France, and the United Kingdom—who can veto any substantive resolution. Additionally, there are 10 non-permanent members elected for a two-year term by the United Nations General Assembly. Starmer, along with Biden and Macron, believes that expanding the council would make it more inclusive and reflective of today's global power dynamics.

The UNSC has often been criticized for being outdated and unrepresentative, with the current structure largely reflective of the post-World War II era. Including countries like India would bring more diversity and a greater ability to address 21st-century global challenges, according to these leaders.