Jaishankar launches India’s UNSC campaign for non-permanent seat: What it means amid global uncertainty | Today’s news
India officially launched its election campaign for a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2028-29 term, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar outlining the country’s priorities, track record of peacekeeping operations and commitment to multilateralism.
Launching India’s bid at the UN headquarters, Jaishankar said the move comes at a time when the world is facing increasing conflict and instability, making the role of the UN and the Security Council more critical than ever.
Read also | With Jaishankar to launch India’s UNSC campaign, meet UN Secretary-General Guterres next week
“It is our pleasure to join you this afternoon to launch India’s bid to serve as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2028-29. We do so at a time when the world is facing a profound paradox… At the same time, we are witnessing levels of conflict, violence and instability that threaten even those who may be very far away,” Jaishankar said.
Jaishankar said member states will naturally assess both India’s vision to address global challenges and its track record in contributing to international peace and security.
“As a candidate, it is natural that member states would like to understand what India brings. One part of that is our vision of the priorities that the world and the United Nations must address. The other is the results that allow the international community to make its own judgment,” he said.
Jaishankar unveils India’s vision of SHANTI
Jaishankar presented India’s approach to global governance and unveiled the vision of SHANTI – Ensuring Holistic Progress through Standards, Trust and Integrity – describing it as the guiding principle of India’s drive for a secure, peaceful and just world.
“Recent developments have only shown that peace, progress and prosperity cannot be sustained in a fragmented manner… The world must therefore focus on holistic progress… This journey can only be undertaken effectively when the global order is valued and rules are respected. This emphasizes norms, trust and integrity. This is the approach India offers: ‘Ensuring holistic progress through SH norms’,” I said.
peacekeeping role of the United Nations
Highlighting India’s contribution to UN peacekeeping operations, Jaishankar said India has deployed nearly 300,000 personnel in around 50 UN peacekeeping missions since the organisation’s inception.
“Peacekeeping has been a vital element in the maintenance of international peace and security since the very inception of the United Nations. India has always been at the forefront of fulfilling this responsibility. Our cumulative contribution is nearly 300,000 deployed in about 50 missions around the world. We currently have 4,300 personnel in 10 of the 11 active missions,” he said.
Read also | Jaishankar expresses grief over Ras Laffan blast in Qatar
He said that India will continue to push for better-equipped, technology-enabled and realistically mandated peacekeeping operations while advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
Jaishankar also highlighted India’s role as a development partner, noting that projects funded by India are currently being implemented in 79 countries. He said that India consistently supports dialogue and diplomacy amid global conflicts and seeks to broaden the concerns of the Global South.
A world with too much conflict and tension
“In a world with too many conflicts and tensions, India has consistently advocated dialogue and diplomacy. We have tried to bridge differences and find common ground. We have focused on mitigating the impact of these developments on the Global South,” he said.
Jaishankar said India’s presence in the Security Council will strengthen the body’s decision-making through wider consultation and harmonization of interests. “We believe that India’s presence in the Security Council will help strengthen decision-making in this vital body. Hence, we seek your support for our candidature,” he said.
10 rotating non-permanent members of the UNSC
If elected, India would join the 10 rotating non-permanent members of the UN Security Council who serve two-year terms alongside the Council’s five permanent members – China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Non-permanent members are elected by the 193-member UN General Assembly and require a two-thirds majority vote.
India has previously served as a non-permanent member of the Security Council eight times – in 1950-51, 1967-68, 1972-73, 1977-78, 1984-85, 1991-92, 2011-12 and most recently in 2021-22.
Read also | US-Iran peace deal: Why Tehran is seeking UN Security Council approval
Recent developments have only shown that peace, progress and prosperity cannot be sustained in a fragmented manner.
As a founding member of the United Nations, India strongly supports the goals and principles of the United Nations and has contributed significantly to the realization of the objectives of the Charter and the development of specialized programs and agencies of the United Nations.
