United Nations, April 19, 2025 — As demands for restructuring the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) grow louder, Ambassador Mohamed Al Hassan AlBanai, Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN), has issued a powerful recognition of India’s rising diplomatic and geopolitical stature, calling it “a main player on the world stage.”
This high-level endorsement has reinvigorated global discourse around UNSC expansion, especially as India intensifies its push for a permanent seat in the world’s most powerful multilateral body, citing its population, economy, peacekeeping contributions, and democratic values as foundational strengths.
“India is indispensable to the global dialogue today,” said Ambassador AlBanai. “Its leadership, experience in peacekeeping, and consistent commitment to multilateralism underscore the importance of including India in any meaningful reform of the Security Council.”
India’s Stand: A Main Player Demands Reform or the UN Risks Irrelevance
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, has repeatedly warned that the legitimacy of the UNSC is under threat due to its outdated and non-representative composition. With five permanent members wielding veto power—a structure unchanged since the end of World War II—there are growing calls to democratize the Council to reflect current geopolitical and demographic realities.
“If the Security Council continues to operate under a structure designed in 1945, it risks losing its credibility and relevance in the 21st century,” said Kamboj. “India represents one-sixth of humanity and is an anchor for the Global South. Our inclusion is not just fair—it is necessary.”
India, along with Brazil, Germany, and Japan (collectively known as the G4 nations), advocates for expanding the UNSC to include new permanent members without veto power initially, and an increase in the number of elected non-permanent seats.
IGN’s Role in Building Reform Consensus
The Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) is a formal UN process aimed at discussing reforms to the UNSC. Since its formation in 2008, the IGN has focused on five primary areas:
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New categories of membership (permanent/non-permanent)
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Use and scope of veto power
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Equitable regional representation
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Size and working methods of an expanded Council
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Relationship between the Security Council and the General Assembly
Ambassador AlBanai, in his chairing of the 2025 IGN sessions, emphasized the need for momentum and “sincere political will” to move from rhetoric to action. He cited India as a positive force in bridging regional divides and offering a vision for collective progress.
“The role that India plays—both as a consensus-builder and a development partner to the Global South—makes its voice critical in any reform discussion,” said AlBanai.
India’s Global Contributions Strengthen Its Case
India’s global credentials have only strengthened its claim for permanent membership. The country has:
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Contributed over 200,000 troops to UN peacekeeping missions, one of the highest in UN history.
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Led climate action initiatives, including the International Solar Alliance and Mission LiFE.
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Hosted the G20 Summit in 2023, where it showcased its ability to facilitate complex multilateral consensus.
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Championed Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and AI governance, proposing ethical global frameworks.
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Supported the Global South through development aid, capacity-building, and health diplomacy.
India is also actively engaged in regional and global groupings such as BRICS, SCO, QUAD, BIMSTEC, and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), further cementing its role as a strategic and diplomatic bridge across continents.
Growing International Support and Resistance
India’s candidacy has received endorsements from France, Russia, the UK, the U.S. (in principle), and most African Union and CARICOM nations. However, resistance remains from certain quarters—especially China, which is reluctant to support G4 expansion, and some regional competitors in South Asia and Latin America.
Even so, the climate for reform is shifting, especially as the world grapples with polycrises like conflict escalation, climate emergencies, and global inequality. The need for an effective, representative, and inclusive UNSC is more urgent than ever.
A Turning Point in Multilateral Diplomacy?
With the IGN process continuing into 2025, Ambassador AlBanai’s endorsement marks a potential turning point in India’s decades-long diplomatic campaign. As a country that blends demographic weight, economic power, and moral credibility, India is increasingly being seen not just as a participant, but as a driver of global change.
“India is not seeking privilege; it is seeking responsibility,” said a senior Indian diplomat. “And the world knows that India has the vision and the values to shoulder it.”
Conclusion: India’s UNSC Campaign Gains Strategic Depth Amid Growing Global Consensus
Ambassador AlBanai’s endorsement of India as a “main player on the world stage” is not merely a diplomatic courtesy—it is a reflection of a larger geopolitical shift taking place within the United Nations and the broader international system. In an era defined by multipolarity, global interdependence, and rapid crises, there is a resounding realization that the existing structures of global governance no longer serve the aspirations of a majority of member states.
India’s candidature for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council is backed by substance and credibility. As the world’s most populous democracy, with one of the fastest-growing economies and a legacy of contributing significantly to UN peacekeeping and climate action, India represents not just itself, but the voice of the Global South, emerging markets, and developing nations who remain underrepresented in key international forums.
AlBanai’s remarks carry weight precisely because they come from the Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN)—the very body tasked with facilitating Security Council reform. This adds a layer of institutional legitimacy to India’s campaign, especially at a time when the IGN process itself has been accused of being stagnant due to procedural bottlenecks and lack of consensus on core issues like veto power and regional representation.
Moreover, this moment arrives as India gains renewed global respect through its successful presidency of the G20, humanitarian leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a foreign policy that balances strategic autonomy with multilateral engagement. India’s constructive approach toward development partnerships, particularly in Africa, the Indo-Pacific, and Latin America, positions it as a bridge-builder in a divided world—a quality the UN desperately needs.
As momentum builds, the road ahead remains challenging. Opposition from entrenched powers and divergent regional interests could delay substantive change. However, what is now undeniable is that the demand for a more inclusive and representative UNSC has reached a tipping point, and India is no longer knocking on the door—it is being recognized as an essential stakeholder.
If global governance is to be truly democratic, equitable, and future-ready, then the inclusion of India in the reformed Security Council is not optional—it is imperative. The international community must move from acknowledging India’s potential to institutionalizing its leadership role, thereby setting the foundation for a UN system that genuinely reflects the realities of the 21st century.
Official Source:
UN Meetings Coverage – India’s Position on UNSC Reform (United Nations)
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