'Let's Make UN More Efficient': France's Macron Backs India's Bid For Permanent Seat In UN Security Council

Macron called for a change in the UNSC's working methods, a limitation of the right of veto in cases of mass crimes, and more attention to operational decisions required for maintaining peace.

French President Emmanuel Macron has voiced strong support for India's permanent membership in the United Nations. Speaking during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Wednesday, Macron said he is in favour of the Security Council to be expanded to include Germany, Japan, India and Brazil.

"Let's make the UN more efficient. Firstly, perhaps making them more representative and that's why France, as I reiterate here, is in favour of the Security Council being expanded. Germany, Japan, India and Brazil should be permanent members much like two countries that Africa will decide to represent them," Macron said in his address to the United Nations General Assembly debate.

In his address, Macron also called for a change in the UNSC's working methods, a limitation of the right of veto in cases of mass crimes, and more attention to operational decisions required for maintaining peace.

"The time has come to regain efficiency in order to act better on the ground," he said. 

The UN Security Council, one of the six main organs of the UN, is responsible for maintaining international security. It has five permanent members with veto powers- the United States, China, France, Russia, and the United Kingdom.

It also consists of 10 non-permanent member countries which are elected for a two-year term by the General Assembly of the United Nations. There has been renewed calls from countries in Asia and Africa for reform in the UN body to make it more inclusive.

Macron's remarks came days after PM Modi in his address to the 'Summit of the Future' on Sunday emphasised that for global peace and development, reforms in institutions are essential, underlining that reform is the key to relevance. 

India has been at the forefront of efforts at the UN to push for urgent long-pending reform of the Security Council, emphasising that it rightly deserves a place at the UN high table as a permanent member. India last sat at the UN high table as a non-permanent member in 2021-22.

India argues that the 15-nation council founded in 1945 is not fit for purpose in the 21st Century and does not reflect contemporary geo-political realities.