External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar launched India's campaign for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council for the 2028-29 term at the world body's headquarters in New York on Monday. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Jaishankar arrived in New York on July 13 after completing an official visit to Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman from July 5-10. The campaign launch took place at a special event in the UN headquarters, marking India's formal entry into the competitive process for the Asia-Pacific Group seat. Following the launch, Jaishankar will attend the 3rd India-EU Trade and Technology Council meeting and interact with his EU and Belgian counterparts in Brussels on July 14-15.
During his visit to Oman, Jaishankar met Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi and held bilateral talks focusing on trade, investments, connectivity, maritime, technology, defence and cyber & AI domains. As reported by the MEA, the leaders also had a comprehensive exchange of views on developments in the Gulf and efforts to ensure peace and stability. Jaishankar expressed appreciation for Oman's prompt assistance extended to Indian seafarers during recent regional developments, particularly near or at the Strait of Hormuz during increased hostilities. He also interacted with members of the vibrant Indian community in Oman and appreciated their continued contribution towards strengthening the multifaceted India-Oman relationship. During his visit to Kuwait on July 9, Jaishankar held talks with Kuwait's Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah on the impact of the Gulf conflict and reviewed bilateral cooperation across key sectors, expressing confidence that the India-Kuwait Strategic Partnership would continue to strengthen.
Elections for the 2028-29 UNSC term will be conducted in June next year, when India and Tajikistan will compete for the sole seat in the Asia-Pacific Group category. According to the MEA, India had last sat at the UN horseshoe table for the 2021-22 term. The UNSC elections will take place amid significant geopolitical shifts as the world continues to grapple with challenges such as the Ukraine war, Gaza conflict and the US-Israel war against Iran. India's campaign message emphasizes 'India4UNSC 2028-29 Peace, Planet, Progress' as its key theme.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the Parliament of Indonesia this week, had said that the global order is changing rapidly, and in this context, 'developing countries like ours are seeking equal participation and a greater role in global affairs.' As reported by the MEA, India firmly believes that reforms in the United Nations Security Council can no longer be delayed. Delhi has consistently underscored that it rightly deserves a permanent seat at the horseshoe table and has called for expansion in both the permanent and non-permanent categories of UNSC membership. India has cautioned that reform of the UN Security Council will border on 'failure' if only its non-permanent category is expanded, as this will 'fundamentally' not change the decision-making power-structure of the five permanent members.
India has been at the forefront of years-long efforts for achieving reform of the Security Council, including expansion in both its permanent and non-permanent categories. According to the MEA, the 15-nation Council, founded in 1945, is not fit for purpose in the 21st Century and does not reflect contemporary geopolitical realities. India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni had said last month that 'status-quoists have tried to use this argument in their favour and thereby, entrench the existing inequities in the Security Council.' The country has asserted that a 'nothing is agreed until everything is agreed' approach must not become a tool to block progress in the reform process.
