UK Prime Minister Starmer Endorses India's Permanent Membership on UN Security Council During High-Level Mumbai Talks

Mumbai:

During discussions in Mumbai, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer declared that India deserves its 'rightful place' on the UN Security Council, a sentiment expressed alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

India's aspiration for permanent membership on the UN's premier decision-making body has been a persistent objective. Recent months have witnessed endorsements from various global powers including the United States (under Joe Biden's administration), Germany, France, the African Union, Japan, and Brazil.

Starmer's endorsement aligns with statements from September last year, when Biden, French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron, and Starmer all advocated for India's inclusion to create a "more representative" United Nations by incorporating India, Germany, Japan, and Brazil.

Russia has similarly endorsed India's candidacy; Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recently affirmed his country's support for increased representation from Asia, Africa, and Latin America in the global institution.

Currently, China remains the sole Asian nation with permanent Security Council membership. India's relationship with China is notably complex across economic, military, and diplomatic dimensions, though signs of improvement have emerged as both nations find common ground opposing US President Donald Trump's trade policies.

Last October, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasized the necessity for reforming 'established institutions and mechanisms' during a BRICS summit in Russia's Kazan, specifically referencing the UN Security Council to develop 'a more equitable global order'.

India's campaign for permanent membership has continued steadily for years.

In September 2023, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres acknowledged he 'fully understands' India's aspirations for a permanent seat, while noting that member-countries must ultimately determine the outcome.

The current UNSC structure includes five permanent members - the United States, United Kingdom, Russia, China, and France - alongside ten countries elected to non-permanent two-year terms by the General Assembly.

Pakistan currently holds a non-permanent position until 2026.

Beyond supporting India's Security Council bid, Starmer praised India's 'remarkable growth story' as he and PM Modi work to strengthen commercial and cultural connections - spanning Bollywood to football, digital technology to military cooperation - following the July trade agreement.

This agreement will reduce India's tariffs on British imports including whisky, cosmetics and medical devices, while Britain decreases duties on clothing, footwear and food products.

As the world's fifth and sixth-largest economies respectively, India and Britain maintain bilateral trade valued at approximately $54.8 billion, with investments supporting over 600,000 jobs collectively.

Prime Minister Modi characterized India and the UK as 'natural partners' building a 'crucial foundation for global stability and economic progress,' alongside strengthened military collaboration.

The leaders' discussions covered numerous topics, including peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region through enhanced maritime security, as well as situations in West Asia and Ukraine. Regarding the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, India reaffirmed its support for peace initiatives through dialogue and diplomatic means.