India Assumes Presidency of UNSC

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Recently, India took over the UNSC presidency for August 2021 and maritime security, counter-terrorism are key priorities.

About

• This is India’s first presidency in the UNSC during its 2021-22 tenure as a non-permanent member of the UNSC.
• The two-year tenure of India as a non-permanent member of the UNSC began on January 1, 2021
• The presidency was taken over by France.

Focus Areas

• South China Sea: Freedom of navigation in the South China Sea is likely to receive the bulk of Indian attention. 
• International Law: India will always be a supporter of international law. In its policy perspective, the Ministry of External Affairs laid this out being the broad theme.
• Maritime Security: Maritime security, which is of significance in dealing with freedom of navigation in the South China Sea is likely to receive the bulk of Indian attention. 
• Counterterrorism: Terrorist acts pose an immense threat to international peace and security.
  • In this direction, there is the need to enhance coordination between the U.N. and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to address the link between money-laundering and terror financing.
  • There is a need for enhanced attention on the linkages between terror and transnational crime.
• Peacekeeping: India is one of the top troop contributors to the U.N. missions.
  • A key priority would be to ensure the safety of the Indian peacekeeping personnel. The use of technology can be helpful in this direction.
  • India is expected to deploy a mobile app ‘UNITE AWARE’, which will provide terrain information and “improve situational awareness” for peacekeepers.
• UNSC Reforms: India opinionated that the Security Council is expanded in both the permanent and non-permanent categories.
  • India is eminently suited for permanent UNSC membership by any objective criteria, such as population, territorial size, GDP, economic potential, civilisational legacy, cultural diversity, political system and past and ongoing contributions to UN activities — especially to UN peacekeeping operations.

Challenges for India at UNSC

• China challenge: India is entering the UNSC at a time when China is asserting itself at the global stage much more vigorously than ever. It heads at least six UN organisations — and has challenged the global rules.
  • China’s aggressive behaviour in the Indo-Pacific, as well as the India-China border, has been visible in all of 2020, and India will have to think on its feet to counter China.
  • China has aggressively tried to raise the issue of Kashmir at the UNSC.
• Unstable West Asia and US-Russia relations: With relations between the US and Russia are deteriorating and India has the challenge to balance both.
  • Even India has to opt balanced approach in the case of Israel and Palestinian and West Asia approach.

Way Forward

• Asian Conflicts: Four major Asian conflicts are raging and diplomatic analysts say India should focus on resolving the conflicts in Afghanistan, Myanmar, Yemen and find a lasting solution to the troubles in Syria.
• Focus on demands of those who elected us: India is an elected non-permanent member of the Security Council and had received support from the Asia-Pacific countries during the election. It is therefore hoped that the immediate issues of unfolding conflicts in the nearby areas will find greater attention during August.
• Promote International Peace: There is a need to generate more focused attention and serve as a call for action in situations where global responses have been insufficient, and poorly coordinated.
• Uphold rules-based multilateral system: Maintain a rules-based, multilateral system to face today’s many ongoing crises.

Sources: TH