External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will formally kick off ‘campaigning’ for India to become a non-permanent member on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the year 2028-29 during his forthcoming visit to the UN head office in New York this coming week. The outreach is an early initiative by India in preparations for the two United Nations General Assembly elections set for 2027, when New Delhi is vying for a seat in the Asia Pacific region.
The campaign accounts for the first sizeable effort by India to achieve its ambition of joining the Security Council as a member state for its ninth non-permanent term. It comes after Jaishankar made a six-nation diplomatic tour that included visits to Qatar and Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, United States and Belgium.
India’s moves for wide-ranging UN reforms in a concurrent effort will accompany UNSC participation.In parallel, India is also likely to step up its advocacy of comprehensive reforms in the UN. In the past, successive Indian governments have stated that the Security Council is no longer a mirror of the present world and they should be more representative with the addition of more permanent and non-permanent members. India has consistently sought for intensive presence of the developing nations at the decision making table.
The reform of the institutions established in the wake of the Second World War has been a recurring theme throughout the year for Jaishankar, who repeatedly has emphasized the urgent need to do so to meet the geopolitical realities of the day and to prove the credibility of global governance.
India, which has been seen to have a strong bid is also expected to be contended with by Tajikistan which has garnered support from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). One of the fundamental principles of UNSC elections is a two-thirds majority in a secret voting balloted by the UN General Assembly, which will make diplomatic diplomacy to be a key to success in the run-up to the 2027 voting.