With India poised to be elected unopposed to the United Nations Security Council on June 17, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday listed priorities that will be underlined by a “positive global role” during its two-year stint at the global high table which will begin on January 1, 2021.

India will work constructively with partners to overcome old and new faultlines and offer innovative and inclusive solutions. We have always been a voice of reason and a votary of international law. — S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister

The minister listed four different challenges that have emerged since India last served on the UNSC from the 54-nation Asia-Pacific Group. India had to persuade Afghanistan to shelve its ambitions and had entered into a quid pro quo with Vietnam to emerge as the sole candidate from the group. While India’s election is all but guaranteed, a senior officer said, “We are not taking chances.”

The four challenges to international peace and security are—increasing strains in international governance as frictions have risen; unchecked traditional and non-traditional security challenges; unreformed and under-representative global institutions; and grave economic repercussions from Covid that will test the world like never before.

“We have always been a voice of reason and a votary of international law. We advocate dialogue, consultation and fairness in our approach to global issues,’’ said Jaishankar.

At its eighth stint at the UNSC where it aspired to be a permanent member, said Jaishankar, India could play a “positive global role” by creating new opportunities for progress, an effective response to international terrorism, reforming the multilateral system, comprehensive approach to international peace and security and promoting technology with a human touch as a driver of solutions.

India is in a G-4 grouping with Japan, South Africa and Germany to make a joint bid to enter an expanded UNSC. That attempt is being opposed by each country’s regional rivals under the banner on “United for Consensus”, which is also known as the Coffee Club.

India is opposed by Pakistan and China, Japan by South Korea, South Africa by African heavyweights Nigeria and Egypt and Germany by Italy and Spain.

5-S approach

‘Samman’ (respect), ‘samvad’ (dialogue), ‘sahyog’ (cooperation) and ‘shanti’ (peace) to create universal ‘samriddhi’ (prosperity)

India’s objective

Achieve NORMS (A New Orientation for a Reformed Multilateral System)

Courtesy: Daily Tribune:  6th June, 2020