G4 Nations On UNSC Reforms

Recently, the Deputy Permanent Representative of India to the U.N. said that the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) is ill-equipped to address the international challenges as there is a lack of representation.

• He was delivering a statement on behalf of the G4 countries – Brazil, Germany, Japan and India – at the UNSC High-Level Debate on ‘Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Addressing the Historical Injustice and enhancing Africa’s effective representation in the UNSC’. 

Crucial Insights from the UNSC Debate

Demand for UNSC Reforms by G4 Nations: India emphasised the need to push for reforms, heeding the voice of the young and future generations, including from Africa, where the demand to correct the historical injustices grows ever stronger.

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• Increase in Representation: The group’s model of UNSC reforms has clearly proposed that the Security Council membership increase from the current 15 to 25-26 by adding six permanent and four or five non-permanent members.
  • Among the six new permanent members, two each are proposed to be from African States and Asia Pacific states, one from Latin American and Caribbean states, and one from West European and Other States.
• Focus on Africa: On rights and privileges associated with permanent memberships, such as the veto, the group the Common African Position that as long as it exists, it should be available to all permanent members, both new and old alike.
  • The G4 is convinced that African representation in permanent and non-permanent categories will be an indispensable part of UNSC reform for a more representative and effective Council.
  • The  G20 inducted the African Union as a full member during the New Delhi Summit held in September last year under India’s presidency of the grouping.
  • As Africa constitutes over 70% of the UNSC’s agenda items under discussion, it should have a permanent voice.
  • Also, Africa is a continent with the youngest demography, vast natural resources, expanding capabilities, growing markets, and rising ambitions.
• Future Action: With world leaders convening in New York later next month for the annual high-level U.N. General Assembly session, they will also participate in the ambitious Summit of the Future convened by U.N. Secretary-General.
  • The summit will produce an inter-governmentally negotiated, action-oriented ‘Pact for the Future’ with chapters on sustainable development and financing for development, international peace and security, among other things.

About Group of Four Or G4 Nations

The G4 nations traditionally meet on the sidelines of the annual high-level UN General Assembly session.

• Represents: It represents a group of Brazil, Germany, India and Japan that are aspiring to become permanent members of the UNSC.
• Aim: It was formed in 2005 to support each other’s bids for permanent membership of the UNSC.

About United Nations Security Council

The United Nations Security Council, established under the UN Charter in 1945, constitutes one of the UN’s six principal organs.

• Members: Comprising 15 members, it includes 5 permanent members (P5) and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.
  • The permanent members are the United States, Russian Federation, France, China, and the United Kingdom.

Need for UNSC Reforms

There are various voices raised across the World to make changes in UNSC.

• Wider and Inclusive Representation: The UN represents a larger world, however it has only 5 permanent members in its permanent membership.
  • The regions like far East Asia, South America, and Africa have no representation in the permanent membership of the UNSC.
  • The UN was founded in 1945 and consisted of 11 members out of a total UN membership of 51 countries, i.e., some 22% of the member states., while today, there are 193 member-states of the UN, and only 15 members of the Council i.e., fewer than 8%.  
  • Many countries, both in absolute numbers and as a proportion of the membership, do not feel adequately represented on the body, highlighting the need for UNSC reforms.
• Contemporary Realities: The current composition of the UNSC represents the post-World War II realities and hence is not in pace with the changing balance of power in the world.
• Veto Power by Permanent Members: The five permanent members (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) enjoy the privilege of a veto over any Council resolution or decision.
• Undue Weightage: The composition of the Council gives undue weightage to the balance of power of those days. 
  • For example, Europe accounts for barely 5% of the world’s population, and still controls 33% of the seats in any given year (excluding Russia).
• Unjust in Equity: Japan and Germany have for decades been the second and third largest contributors to the UN budget, while still being referred to as ‘enemy states’ in the United Nations Charter (since the UN was set up by the victorious Allies of the Second World War). 
• Denial of Opportunity: It denies opportunities to other states such as India, which is highly populous, have a great share in the world economy, or contributions in kind to the UN (like participation in peacekeeping operations) have helped shape the evolution of world affairs, highlighting the need for UNSC reforms.

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