Jan 24 – Tesla CEO and Twitter owner Elon Musk has championed the need for a reevaluation of United Nations bodies and expressed disbelief that India, despite being the world’s most populous country, does not possess a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
The influential American entrepreneur addressed the issue of UN body reform on Sunday, noting that powerful nations are often unwilling to relinquish their influence. Musk underscored that India’s lack of a permanent UNSC seat is indeed “absurd” and suggested that Africa, as a continent, should also be granted a permanent UNSC membership.
Taking to his X platform, Musk conveyed, “At some point, there needs to be a revision of the UN bodies. The problem is that those with excessive power are reluctant to relinquish it. India not having a permanent seat on the Security Council, despite being the most populous country on Earth, is absurd. In my opinion, Africa as a whole should also have a permanent seat.” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has similarly called for a more contemporary representation in the UN, emphasizing that the institution should reflect the current world order.
He expressed concern over the absence of any permanent African member in the UNSC and highlighted the necessity for global governance reforms during a post on January 21.
India, which has been a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for eight terms, belongs to the G4 group, consisting of nations advocating for mutual support in their quest for permanent membership in the UNSC. These countries advocate for reforms within the UNSC.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has also noted the increasing global support for India’s permanent UNSC membership, highlighting the importance of seizing opportunities when they arise. He underlined that the world does not readily grant privileges and sometimes nations must assert themselves. In September 2023, Jaishankar expressed concerns that the UN’s reluctance to reform its structure was rendering the organization outdated, leading countries to explore alternative solutions.
He likened this situation to passengers on a bus and made reference to the permanent members of the UN Security Council, characterizing their stance as “injudicious.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also drawn attention to the need for UN reform, pointing out that the world has significantly changed since the UN’s establishment, yet the composition of its permanent members has remained unchanged.
