‘We must be bold enough to change’: UN chief’s strong call for reform in Security Council — Is it good news for India?

United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres has once again voiced his support for reform in the Security Council, calling it not just “important” but an “essential” step.“Reforming the Security Council is not just important – it is essential. Those who try to cling to privileges today risk paying the price tomorrow. We must all be bold enough to change. The world is not waiting. Neither should we,” the UN chief said in a post on X.Currently, the UNSC consists of five permanent members — the United States, China, France, Russia, and the United Kingdom — who hold veto power over substantive resolutions. The council also includes ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.

Here’s what it means for India

India is not a permanent member of the UNSC. However, it has long sought a seat at the table. External affairs minister S Jaishankar even said that India “accords the highest priority” to this goal. “India strongly believes that it has all the credentials to be a permanent member of a reformed and expanded UNSC that reflects contemporary global realities,” he told the Parliament in 2024.Moreover Guterres and UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric have already noted India’s contributions, calling it a “very important part of the UN system.” “India is a very important part of the UN system. They are a great supporter of multilateralism. The secretary general has very good relations with the Indian government. We have a lot of Indian colleagues who work here with us. India is an important voice within the UN system,” he had said last year.In the past, nations that have advocated for India’s permanent seat at the UNSC include Russia, US, France, UK, among others.India most recently held a non-permanent seat from 2021 to 2022 and has continued to push for reforms aimed at better aligning the body with present-day geopolitical realities.