The BRICS TimesBhutan’s Prime Minister strongly advocated for UNSC reforms at the UN General Assembly and openly endorsed India’s permanent membership. He said that in today’s changing global circumstances, countries like India and Japan deserve a permanent place in the Security Council.
Bhutan PM Calls for Strong UNSC Reforms
At the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay made a powerful case for major reforms in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Tobgay clearly stated that considering the shifting global realities, nations like India and Japan must be granted permanent membership.
This remark comes at a time when India has been raising this demand for years, and the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting also recently expressed consensus on the issue.
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India and Japan Described as Deserving Candidates
The Bhutanese Prime Minister emphasized that the UNSC should not remain a symbolic institution. Instead, it must transform into an effective body capable of addressing the world’s real challenges. He said that Bhutan supports reforms in the United Nations, including the expansion of the Security Council. In his view, a reformed UNSC must include capable and leadership-driven countries like India and Japan as permanent members.
BRICS Nations Back India’s Aspirations
Bhutan’s open support comes after BRICS nations also voiced their backing for a greater role for India and Brazil in the UNSC. In the latest meeting, China and Russia reiterated that they respect India and Brazil’s ambitions and want to see them play a stronger role in the Security Council.
India’s Long-Pending Demand for Reforms
India has consistently called for reforms in the UNSC and sought increased participation of Asian and African countries. However, China’s opposition has prevented progress. The UNSC is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, with five permanent members and ten non-permanent members. Permanent members, also known as the P5, hold veto power, while non-permanent members rotate every two years.
Excluding China, India enjoys strong ties with the other permanent members. France has already extended full support to India’s permanent membership. If China refrains from blocking, India’s path to permanent entry in the UNSC could become clearer. In the UNSC, decisions require approval from at least nine of the fifteen members, but any permanent member can nullify a proposal through its veto power.
