New Delhi, Sep 22: India has renewed its call for comprehensive reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), stressing the need for a decision-making body that better reflects the realities of today’s world.
India participated in a ministerial-level meeting hosted by France and Mexico in New York on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. The discussions focused on a Franco-Mexican initiative calling for voluntary restraint in the use of the Security Council veto in situations involving mass atrocities, including genocide, crimes against humanity and large-scale war crimes.
Representing India at the meeting, Secretary (West) Sibi George reiterated New Delhi’s established position on the veto and underlined the importance of comprehensive reform of the Security Council. India has consistently argued for a more representative and responsive multilateral system, including greater representation for developing countries.
The Franco-Mexican initiative, launched in 2015, has gathered broader international support. France and Mexico said 128 countries now back the political declaration, with 21 states joining over the past four months. The initiative seeks voluntary restraint by permanent members when the Council is dealing with situations involving mass atrocities.
The latest meeting comes amid renewed international attention on the structure and functioning of the Security Council. India has long advocated reforms that would give greater weight to the changing economic, political and demographic realities of the global community.
The issue has also featured prominently in India-France diplomatic discussions. During a meeting on September 21, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reaffirmed their countries’ commitment to reforming the Security Council and strengthening effective multilateralism.
For India, the debate is not limited to the question of veto powers. It also concerns the broader ability of the UN’s central security body to remain representative, credible and capable of responding to emerging international challenges.
As discussions on UN reform continue, India’s participation in the France-Mexico meeting underlines its continued engagement with efforts to strengthen the multilateral system and reshape global decision-making to reflect a wider range of voices.
