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Group of Four (G4) on UNSC Reform

Posted on September 24, 2022 by admin1  1024

In News

  • India’s External Affairs Minister met with his counterparts from Germany, Brazil and Japan under The Group of Four (G4) banner.

More about the news

  • G4 met on the sidelines of the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly to discuss issues related to the reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
  • The group is primarily focused on 
    • U.N. Security Council (UNSC) reform, and 
    • Permanent membership of the body for G4 members. 

More about G4

  • The G4 nations, comprising Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan, are four countries that support each other’s bids for permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council. 
  • Unlike the G7, where the common denominator is the economy and long-term political motives, the G4’s primary aim is the permanent member seats on the Security Council. 
  • Each of these four countries have figured among the elected non-permanent members of the council since the UN’s establishment. 
  • Meeting highlights:
    • Pushing forward for Reforms: 
      • In the recent meeting, the group reiterated their commitment to pushing forward reform. 
      • They also expressed dissatisfaction at the lack of progress in this regard.
    • Complex Global issues and need of reforms:
      • The G4 felt that the U.N. decision-making bodies needed to be urgently reformed as global issues were increasingly complex and interconnected. 
    • No meaningful progress & lack of transparency:
      • G4 ministers expressed concern that the 76 th Session of the U.N. General Assembly (i.e., the year-long session that just concluded) did not make “meaningful progress” in the Inter-Governmental Negotiations (IGN).
      • This session, according to the G4, was constrained by a lack of transparency.
    • African representation:
      • They also batted for the Common African Position (CAP) and emphasized that African nations need representation in both the permanent and non-permanent categories of membership of a reformed and expanded Security Council.
      • G4 also called for dialogue with all pro-reform Member States.
    • Text-based negotiations:
      • The G4 Ministers welcomed the recommendation of the President of the 76 th General Assembly to “gradually move the process towards text-based negotiations”.
      • The group hoped this principle would be followed in the 77th General Assembly Session.

United Nations Security Council

  • It is one of the UN’s six main organs and is aimed at maintaining international peace and security.
  • It held its first session on 17th January 1946 in Westminster, London.
  • Headquarters: New York City.
  • Membership: The Council is composed of 15 Members:
    • Permanent members with veto power: 
      • China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
  • More than 50 United Nations Member States have never been Members of the Security Council.

UNSC elections

  • Each year the General Assembly elects five non-permanent members (out of 10 in total) for a two-year term.
    • India is currently a non-permanent member of the Council, with its two-year term ending on December 31 this year.
  • The 10 non-permanent seats are distributed on a regional basis as follows:
    • Five for African and Asian States.
    • One for the Eastern European States.
    • Two for the Latin American and Caribbean States;
    • Two for Western European and other States
  • To be elected to the Council, candidate countries need a two-thirds majority of ballots of the Member States that are present and voting in the Assembly.
  • The UNSC elections were traditionally held in the General Assembly hall with each of the 193 member states casting its vote in a secret ballot. 

Permanent membership:

  • Reason for demanding Permanent Member Status
    • Veto Power: 
      • Veto power has been the exclusive domain of P5 members. 
      • India could use veto power to defend its interests, say against Pakistan (just like Russia did last year over the civil war in Ukraine). 
    • Prestige Associated: 
      • The sheer prestige associated with permanent membership of a multilateral forum. 
      • India’s elevation will also be an acknowledgment of its rise as a global power, ready to play a key role in the council’s objectives of international peace and security.
    • Advantages in General Assembly:  
      • As a permanent member, India could take benefits of the type of majority required to pass a resolution, requirement of approval of the United Nations Security Council etc.
  • Challenges:
    • Lack of Political Will: 
      • Although there is a general agreement towards change in the system, different countries have different perceptions of the requirement for change. 
    • Coffee Club: 
      • It is an informal group comprising 40-odd member states, mostly middle-sized states who oppose bigger regional powers grabbing permanent seats, has been instrumental in holding back reforms to the United Nations Security Council over the past six years.
    • Chinese Opposition: 
      • China being a permanent member blocks the growth of India becoming a Permanent Member.

What makes India a potential candidate for UNSC membership?

  • Role in international affairs: 
    • The recent global supply chain disruption, pandemic, climate change, renewable energy and now the incipient food issue, the security situation in some parts of the world- all desire & require India to play a larger role in international affairs and cooperation.
  • Justified Demand: India makes a number of claims to justify its demand. 
    • Population and democracy:
      • India has the world’s second-largest population and is the world’s largest liberal democracy. 
    • Economy:
      • It is also the world’s fifth largest economy and third largest in terms of purchasing power parity as of 2020. 
    • Peacekeeping troops:
      • India is the largest contributor of troops to United Nations peacekeeping missions. 
        • India has contributed more than 180,000 troops, the largest number from any country, participated in more than 43 missions and 156 Indian peacekeepers have made the supreme sacrifice while serving in UN missions.

Need for UN Reforms

  • Equitable World Order: 
    • There is a need for a more equitable world in order to uphold the principles of democracy at the global level.
  • Inclusivity: 
    • Developing countries like the African countries, need to be made stakeholders in the multilateral institutions and involved in the decision-making process.
  • Mitigation of New Threats: 
    • With rising protectionism, increased incidents of terrorism and the threat of climate change, the multilateral system must become more resilient and responsive.

Way Ahead

  • India has been the most elected member of the UNSC outside the P5. This position can be leveraged to show India’s eagerness and maturity to be recognised as a responsible global power.
  • To play a significant and meaningful role, India needs to have a permanent seat at the institution that was built to uphold global peace, security, and order.

Source: TH

 
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