US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed strong support for the reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to ensure better representation for the developing world. Speaking at the ‘Summit of the Future’ during the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York, he reiterated the US’s longstanding endorsement of permanent seats for India, Japan, and Germany.
Blinken proposed the inclusion of two permanent seats for Africa, a rotating seat for Small Island Developing States, and permanent representation for Latin America and the Caribbean. He stated, “Reforming the UN Security Council to better represent the developing world, and the world as it is today, includes our long-standing support for permanent seats for Germany, Japan, and India.”
He emphasized the need to initiate negotiations on Council reforms immediately and expressed the US’s commitment to modernizing the UN system to reflect contemporary geopolitical realities. However, he firmly opposed any revisions that could undermine the core principles of the UN Charter.
Highlighting India’s aspirations, Blinken acknowledged the country’s long-standing pursuit of a permanent seat in the Security Council, which has gained traction with support from the international community. The UNSC currently comprises 15 member states, with five permanent members—China, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and the United States—holding veto power.
Earlier in the day, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also addressed the need for reforming global institutions during his speech at the Summit of the Future, calling reforms “key to relevance.” He noted the significance of including the African Union as a permanent G20 member and emphasized the importance of a human-centric approach to global challenges.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri highlighted that the UN Summit document includes a detailed paragraph on UNSC reform for the first time, marking a positive development. He expressed optimism about future text-based negotiations aimed at reforming the UN system, considering this acknowledgment a significant step forward.
