New Delhi: Billionaire tech magnate Elon Musk has recently called the absence of India as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) "absurd."
The Tesla CEO said that the current structure of the UNSC does not adequately represent the world's most populous nations and called for an overhaul.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) Musk said, “At some point, there needs to be a revision of the UN bodies. Problem is that those with excess power don’t want to give it up. India not having a permanent seat on the Security Council, despite being the most populous country on Earth, is absurd.”
Notably, India's long-running drive for permanent membership on the UN Security Council has received backing from many countries.
Last year, The United States President Joe Biden has reiterated US support for India becoming a permanent member of the UNSC.
Dominica's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vince Henderson had also made a strong case for India to be made a permanent member of the UNSC, saying it has emerged as a "very important global player" and derserves to be considered for full membership of the UN body.
“Well, what I can say is, first of all, to congratulate India, on its ambitions to become a member of the UN Security Council. But also to become a permanent member is an extremely weighty responsibility, which I am sure is not beyond the capacity of the government of India. The question of when that will happen will be a question for, the members of the United Nations to decide, in the context of the reform agenda that's taking place within the Security Council,” the UNGA president said in a statement.
Notably, UNSC has been in existence for more than 75 years. However, it does not represent the geopolitical and economic realities of the 21st century.
India’s claims to a permanent seat in the UNSC are based on the following grounds:
- Represents one-sixth of the global population
- Among the founding members of the U.N
- Always upheld its principles and credentials while some other countries consider the organisation as merely a talk shop
- Impressive contribution towards the UN Peace Keeping Force (UNPKF)
- An emerging economic power
- An independent foreign policy which is very often not in sync with that of the five permanent members of UNSC
- A substantially increasing international clout
According to experts despite growing doubts about the efficacy of the world body in promoting peace and security regionally and internationally, India deserves a place at the table.
