India emphasized the urgency to accelerate the process of Security Council reform during the Foreign Ministers Meeting of the G4 nations. This meeting took place alongside the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on September 21, with the aim of reviewing the progress of negotiations regarding UN Security Council reform.
Representing India on the forum, Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs emphasized that India is committed to ensuring the Global South’s Voice in global governance.
The other Foreign Ministers of the G4 countries, included, Mauro Vieira, Foreign Minister of Brazil, Annalena Baerbock, Federal Foreign Minister of Germany, Yoko Kamikawa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan. The Ministers reiterated that the expansion of the UN Security Council in both permanent and non-permanent categories of membership is essential to make the body more representative, legitimate, effective and efficient.
The ministers highlighted that the concept of multilateralism is facing significant pressures due to numerous intricate crises. They observed that an unprecedented number of Member States have acknowledged the necessity for reforming the UN Security Council. Furthermore, they stressed that the Security Council’s current inability to effectively and promptly address contemporary global challenges underscores the urgent requirement for comprehensive reform to ensure it aligns better with today’s geopolitical realities.
The ministers reached a consensus on the importance of bolstering the role and involvement of developing nations within the Security Council, both in its permanent and non-permanent membership categories. Recognizing the historical inequities in representation within the Security Council, they emphasized the significance of increasing participation from underrepresented groups and regions, such as Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
In this context, the G4 Ministers restated their strong support for the Common African Position (CAP) and stressed the importance of Africa’s representation in both permanent and non-permanent membership categories within a reformed and expanded Security Council.
Concurring on the need of enhancing the participation of G4 members as significant contributors to international peace and security within the Security Council, the G4 Ministers reaffirmed their mutual support for each other’s aspirations to become new permanent members in a reformed Security Council. They aimed to achieve this through a process characterized by openness, transparency, and adherence to the principles of the UN Charter.
The Ministers reiterated their commitment to addressing this issue during the ongoing 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and agreed to intensify discussions with all Member States, with the goal of achieving concrete outcomes within a specific timeframe.
Additionally, the Ministers stressed the significance of upcoming milestone events, like the Summit of the Future in 2024 and the UN 80th anniversary in 2025, as critical opportunities for making decisive progress and achieving tangible results in the realm of Security Council reform.