The UN Security Council is an exclusive club of five nations – the US, the UK, China, Russia and France. Of all these nations, other than China, all of them at least in words have shown zero problems with India entering their club.
India is the world’s fifth-largest economy and in a few years’ time, it will be a big driver of the global economy. Therefore, its importance in world affairs will only increase. It is already in the good books of the permanent UNSC members who support it at every world forum except China which sees it as a challenge to its dominance.
Some years back, India joined as a member of the MTCR (Missile Technology Control Regime) which speaks highly of its credibility and non-proliferation record. China is not a member despite being a member of the UNSC. Its next step is to become a member of the NSG. Most big powers support it including the USA but China opposes it. It is only a matter of time before this will come to pass.
India has excellent diplomatic relations in the Muslim-dominated Middle East as well as with the Jews in Israel. No other big power enjoys such rapport as India does which speaks highly of its diplomatic finesse. India is seen as a calming influence in this region and will play a very important role in the future. The Chabahar Port which India is building in Iran will bring peace and prosperity in Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asia. India has also played a constructive role in reducing terrorism in Afghanistan.
If India joins the UNSC, it will use non-violence and persuasion as a tool for handling international matters besides its quiet political diplomacy rather than using the stick. India achieved its Independence in such a way. India is a country of extreme cultural, religious and economic diversity and has a lot of experience in resolving such complex social and economic issues. As a secular nation, it understands the sensitivities of different religious groups in maintaining peace and equanimity. It is a country with long democratic traditions that values consensus in decision-making. India is like a mini world and the world is like its extension. India’s rich experience in handling such a diversified populace of complex human and economic relations will be an asset as a member of the UNSC.
Now even with the majority seeing zero problems, I don’t think this is going to happen anytime soon, simply because India getting prominence is something that is likely to work against China and Pakistan in the long run.
Other than India, many other nations have demanded exactly similar inclusion into the UNSC as permanent members, for example, Brazil, Germany and Japan too wish to be part of this. Each of these nations, just like India, has its own sets of countries against them. Argentina, Mexico and Colombia oppose Brazil’s inclusion; France and Spain oppose Germany’s inclusion; South Korea opposes Japan’s inclusion.
The club of 5 nations are definitely in no mood to add too many members to their room. So this plan of India’s bid to the UN is a mere formality that the Government of India does, to remind the UN that as a nation, India is still contributing to it in terms of peacekeeping missions and other ways.
I may sound controversial here, but the UN is way too overrated an organisation. Even with all the resources, till date, I wonder which conflict the UN managed to put an end to. India need not bother much about becoming a permanent member; we should rather pay attention to our own development.
The writer is a PG student from the Department of Politics & Governance, Central University of Kashmir. He can be reached at [email protected]

Zubair Rashid