Context: Recently, India has assumed the presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the month of August. 

Key Points

• During its term, India will organise three high-level signature meetings focussing on maritime security, peacekeeping, and counter-terrorism.

According to India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti:-

• "As we take over UNSC Presidency for August, look forward to working productively with other members. India will always be a voice of moderation, an advocate of dialogue and a proponent of international law,".

This is India's first presidency in the UNSC during its 2021-22 tenure as a non-permanent member of the UNSC.

• The two-year tenure of India as a non-permanent member of the UNSC began on January 1, 2021
• The presidency was taken over by France.

Focus Areas

• South China Sea: Freedom of navigation in the South China Sea is likely to receive the bulk of Indian attention. 
• International Law: India will always be a supporter of international law. In its policy perspective, the Ministry of External Affairs laid this out being the broad theme.
• Maritime Security: Maritime security, which is of significance in dealing with freedom of navigation in the South China Sea is likely to receive the bulk of Indian attention. 
• Counterterrorism: Terrorist acts pose an immense threat to international peace and security.

In this direction, there is the need to enhance coordination between the U.N. and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to address the link between money-laundering and terror financing.

• There is a need for enhanced attention on the linkages between terror and transnational crime.
• Peacekeeping: India is one of the top troop contributors to the U.N. missions.
• A key priority would be to ensure the safety of the Indian peacekeeping personnel. The use of technology can be helpful in this direction.
• India is expected to deploy a mobile app ‘UNITE AWARE’, which will provide terrain information and “improve situational awareness” for peacekeepers.

UNSC Reforms: India opinionated that the Security Council is expanded in both the permanent and non-permanent categories.

• India is eminently suited for permanent UNSC membership by any objective criteria, such as population, territorial size, GDP, economic potential, civilisational legacy, cultural diversity, political system and past and ongoing contributions to UN activities — especially to UN peacekeeping operations.

Challenges for India at UNSC

• China challenge: India is entering the UNSC at a time when China is asserting itself at the global stage much more vigorously than ever. It heads at least six UN organisations — and has challenged the global rules.
• China’s aggressive behaviour in the Indo-Pacific, as well as the India-China border, has been visible in all of 2020, and India will have to think on its feet to counter China.
• China has aggressively tried to raise the issue of Kashmir at the UNSC.

Unstable West Asia and US-Russia relations: With relations between the US and Russia are deteriorating and India has the challenge to balance both.

• Even India has to opt balanced approach in the case of Israel and Palestinian and West Asia approach.

Will UNSC reforms ever happen?

• Under the given charter, articles and structures, there is very little hope for UNSC reforms in near future.
• The lack of reforms can push the credibility crisis of UN to a degree that it becomes unsustainable for it to function, or incidences of side-lining the UN increase manifold.
• If the UNSC does not appoint new permanent members then its primacy may be challenged by some of the new emerging countries.
• There is also a possibility that if UN doesn’t reform itself, it may lose relevance and alternate global and regional groupings may assume greater importance.
• No P5 member is likely to compromise this power in its own national interest, which is generally prioritized before global interest, thus making the reformation process a mirage.

Suggestion

• Asian Conflicts: Four major Asian conflicts are raging and diplomatic analysts say India should focus on resolving the conflicts in Afghanistan, Myanmar, Yemen and find a lasting solution to the troubles in Syria.
• Focus on demands of those who elected us: India is an elected non-permanent member of the Security Council and had received support from the Asia-Pacific countries during the election. It is therefore hoped that the immediate issues of unfolding conflicts in the nearby areas will find greater attention during August.
• Promote International Peace: There is a need to generate more focused attention and serve as a call for action in situations where global responses have been insufficient, and poorly coordinated.
• Uphold rules-based multilateral system: Maintain a rules-based, multilateral system to face today's many ongoing crises.

About United Nations Security Council

• The UNSC is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security.
• Its powers include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of international sanctions, and the authorization of military action through Security Council resolutions.
• It is the only UN body with the authority to issue binding resolutions to member states.
• The Security Council consists of fifteen members. Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, and the United States—serve as the body’s five permanent members (P5).
• These permanent members can veto any substantive Security Council resolution, including those on the admission of new member states or candidates for Secretary-General.
• The Security Council also has 10 non-permanent members, elected on a regional basis to serve two-year terms. The body’s presidency rotates monthly among its members.