India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has strongly criticized the United Nations Security Council. In an event held yesterday in Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka, he referred to the Council as the “Old Boys’ Club.” He stated that the Security Council does not want new member countries because it would diminish their power.
Jaishankar mentioned that the Security Council’s permanent members, which include five countries, are reluctant to grant permanent membership to any new country. The major reason for this is that they do not want to relinquish control over the club; they want to keep control over the entire club.
He expressed concern that the United Nations is becoming increasingly ineffective and unsuccessful. Jaishankar stated, “From one perspective, this is a failure of the entire human race. In my opinion, the entire world is suffering because of this. The damage is occurring because the United Nations is becoming more and more ineffective in resolving global conflicts.”
To tackle various global challenges, Jaishankar emphasized the need for reforms within the United Nations. He said, “If you ask 200 countries whether reforms are necessary in the United Nations, the majority will give their opinion in favor of reforms.”
Earlier in September, Jaishankar had mentioned that despite attempts to bring about reforms, those with more power within the United Nations repeatedly reject the demand. This could lead to the organization losing its relevance over time, and many will seek alternative ways to address their issues.
It’s worth noting that India has been striving for a permanent seat on the Security Council for a long time. However, there is no consensus among the permanent members—United States, United Kingdom, Russia, China, and France—regarding India becoming a permanent member. This has led to frustration and discontent from India’s side.
