New York: French President Emmanuel Macron has bolstered India’s bid for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). In his speech to the UN General Assembly on Thursday, Macron advocated for the inclusion of India, alongside Germany, Japan, and Brazil, as permanent members.
“France supports the expansion of the Security Council. Changes are necessary in how the Council operates. To be effective, we must restore its efficiency, and this change is long overdue,” Macron declared. His call for reform comes amidst ongoing global conflicts, including the war in Ukraine, the Israel-Hamas crisis, and the Israel-Hezbollah tensions.
Macron underscored the urgent need for the UN to adapt to current challenges and argued that granting more countries permanent membership would enhance the Council’s credibility and efficiency. His statement follows earlier praise from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who recognised India’s crucial contributions to global peacekeeping.
All permanent members of the Security Council, except China, have supported expanding its membership. India has previously served as a non-permanent member of the UNSC on multiple occasions, most recently in 2021-22.
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