The international community has been discussing the reform of the United Nations for a long time, but there has never been a conclusion as to who will become the new permanent members.
India, which had just received a commitment from Russia some time ago, thought that it had already achieved twice the result with half the effort when it became normal. However, the recent remarks of UN Secretary-General Guterres directly chilled India's heart.
(UN Secretary-General António Guterres)
A few days ago, the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement was held in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, which attracted heads of state and representatives from more than 100 countries, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres. In this meeting, which mainly involves developing countries, Guterres made a rare move to express his views on the topic of reforming the United Nations.
Guterres said that in the current situation, I very much hope that the UN Security Council can carry out some reforms to correct some injustices, such as the absence of an African member among the permanent members. He also gave his own analysis of whether the reform can be realized, saying that although it does not depend on the Secretary-General, the five current permanent members have expressed their positions on similar reform intentions, so this wish is hopeful.
In fact, Guterres's remarks can be said to be on the heart of the mainland.
As we all know, the current framework and mechanisms of the United Nations were established after World War II, and the design of that time did reflect the political trade-offs of the post-war powers. Today, however, the international community has undergone radical changes. The rise of emerging economies has not only rewritten the global economic map, but also redefined the international political situation. Therefore, reforming the United Nations, making its composition and operation more reflective of international relations in the new era, and increasing its representativeness and inclusiveness have become the propositions that the mainland has always pursued.
The African continent, with a population of more than one billion people and abundant natural resources, is also in the midst of rapid economic development, making it a potential stock to change the global geopolitical and economic landscape. Therefore, the inclusion of African countries in the ranks of permanent members is not only a recognition of their status as key members of the international community, but also an inevitable choice that is in line with the development of the times.
(General Assembly session)
However, when it comes to China's heart, it really chills India's heart.
You know, no country in the world has worked harder than India in the matter of becoming normal. So far, India has submitted seven requests to the UN General Assembly for "permanent membership", but each time four countries have agreed to it and one country has vetoed it. And the countries that vetoed it are not fixed one, but the P5 take turns.
As a rapidly developing country, India's desire to "join the normal" is not only a pursuit of international status, but also a strategic consideration of its own influence.
A permanent membership would allow India to participate directly in decision-making at the heart of global governance. Against the backdrop of international turmoil, the permanent members of the Security Council have a unique influence on issues of international peace and security, and enjoy veto power on a range of issues related to conflicts and sanctions. Therefore, if India has this right, it will undoubtedly increase its voice in the international arena, so as to more effectively promote its diplomatic strategy and international agenda.
Moreover, the current rise of China has prompted the international community to reassess geopolitics. Against this backdrop, India's success in "normalizing" it will help it consolidate and even enhance its leading position in Asia and the international community.
More importantly, having a permanent membership on thorny issues such as the Sino-Indian border conflict will also enhance India's bargaining power in the international arena, which will help India gain a more favorable negotiating position in bilateral disputes.
(Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar)
Therefore, at the end of last year, when Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar visited Russia, he once again held consultations with the Russian side on the matter of joining the permanent government, and the Russian side was also very happy and immediately expressed its willingness to support India. In India's view, it is now only one step away from successfully "becoming normal", and perhaps the Chinese side will nod its head.
On the contrary, whether for China or other permanent members, compared with Africa, India's qualifications for "permanent membership" are relatively few.
The first is representation, and one of the major goals of the reform of the United Nations is to make it more representative and inclusive, with Africa having the largest number of Member States in the United Nations, with 54 independent states, while India is a single country. At this level, increasing Africa's representation would seem to make the United Nations Security Council more inclusive.
The second is the geopolitical balance, with the P5 countries currently mainly located in Europe, Asia and North America, and India's accession may indeed enhance Asia's influence, but it will not balance Africa's low representation in global governance. The inclusion of African countries in the Council is therefore a necessary remedy for the imbalance in the current international structure.
Thirdly, in terms of security challenges, the complex situation in Africa is more urgent than in developing India. The African region is not only at the forefront of global conflicts, terrorism and transnational crime, but also a key node for international peace and stability. Therefore, by strengthening Africa's position in the Council, it is possible to promote solutions to these problems more effectively in the region and at the international level.
(Prime Minister Modi)
Finally, historical impartiality cannot be overlooked. The historical context in which Africa had suffered from colonial domination and exploitation for a long time gave it the legitimacy to gain a more equitable place in the international system. The inclusion of African countries in the permanent membership of the Security Council is, to a certain extent, a repair and balancing of historical inequalities.
In short, the reform of the United Nations is an inevitable result, but India, which is in a hurry, has to be lined up again.