UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer joined world leaders in backing India’s bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to make it more representative of global realities of the day.
During his speech at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York last week, Starmer said: “We need to make the system more representative and more responsive to those who need it most. So, we will make the case not just for fairer outcomes, but fairer representation in how we reach them.
“And this also applies to the Security Council. It 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.”
Setting out a fresh approach of a Labour-led UK government, he added: “Finally, to support this we will also change how the UK does things. Moving from the paternalism of the past towards partnership for the future.
“Listening a lot more – speaking a bit less. Offering game-changing British expertise and working together in a spirit of equal respect.
French President Emmanuel Macron had also expressed firm backing for India’s permanent membership to make the UN more efficient and representative in his UNGA address.
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“France is in favour of the Security Council being expanded. Germany, Japan, India, and Brazil should be permanent members, as well as two countries that Africa will decide to represent it,” he said.
It follows President Joe Biden reiterating the US stance in favour of an expansion of the UNSC – made up of five permanent members and 10 non-permanent member countries – elected for a two-year term by the General Assembly of the United Nations. The five permanent members are Russia, the UK, China, France, and the United States, who have veto powers on UN resolutions.