‘United Nations Must Evolve’: Bhutan And Portugal Join UK, France In Backing India’s Permanent UNSC Seat

After the big-ticket endorsements from France and the UK, Portugal, and Bhutan have now come forward to support India’s candidacy for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council amid the ongoing session of the UN General Assembly.

Delivering an address at the UN stage in New York on Friday, Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay said India with its significant economic growth and leadership of the Global South deserves a permanent seat at the UN Security Council.

‘Relic of the past’

“The United Nations must evolve to meet the realities of today’s world. The Security Council, as it stands, is a relic of the past. We need a Council that reflects the current geopolitical, economic landscape and social realities,” Tobgay said in his address to the 79th session of the UNGA on Friday.

He said Bhutan has long advocated for reform of the 15-nation Security Council to make it more representative and effective and voiced support for India to sit as a permanent member at the horse-shoe high table. “For this, India with its significant economic growth and population and leadership of the Global South deserves a permanent seat at the Security Council,” Tobgay said.

Portugal

Before Tobgay’s address, Portugal Prime Minister Luís Montenegro also backed India’s UNSC bid. “We want to move forward with the reform of the global governance system to guarantee greater representativeness, transparency, justice and cooperation,” he said, calling for reforming the Security Council to make it more representative, agile and functional.

“Portugal supports the African Common Position and the aspirations of Brazil and India to become permanent members,” he continued, noting that small and medium-sized countries should also have their representation strengthened, alongside with the limitation and greater scrutiny of the use of the veto.

UK and France

These back-to-back endorsements follow similar calls from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron. Speaking at the UN General Assembly, Starmer this week said that “the Security Council has to change to become a more representative body, willing to act – not paralysed by politics”. “We want to see permanent African representation on the Council, Brazil, India, Japan and Germany as permanent members, and more seats for elected members as well,” he said.

Macron also strongly advocated for India’s inclusion as a permanent member of the UNSC during his address at the UN General Assembly. “Let’s make the UN more efficient. We need to make it more representative and that’s why France is in favour of the Security Council being expanded,” he said. Turning to Security Council reform, US President Joe Biden on Tuesday said that the UN needs to adapt and bring new voices and perspectives, expressing support for expanding the organ’s membership. It must “go back to the job of making peace” and “of brokering deals to end wars and suffering”.

UNSC Reforms

The United Nations Security Council consists of 15 members: five permanent members with veto power (the United States, China, France, Russia, and the United Kingdom) and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms. The Council’s primary functions include the investigation of conflicts, the establishment of peacekeeping operations and the imposition of sanctions when necessary. It plays a crucial role in addressing global crises and conflicts, making it a key player in international diplomacy.

The question of equitable representation has been on the Assembly’s agenda for over four decades. However, the calls for reform grew louder amid widening conflict worldwide. Several nations, including permanent UNSC members like the US, have expressed support for India’s inclusion in this powerful group. However, China has opposed such a move.

India has continued its efforts to move the process of UNSC reforms forward, including by engaging actively in the ongoing Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on the Security Council reform. As part of the G4, which includes Brazil, Germany, and Japan, New Delhi has advocated for expanding the UNSC to include more nations as permanent members to reflect current geopolitical realities.