External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar officially launched India’s campaign for a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2028-29 term, saying the country’s presence in this vital body will help decision-making at a time when the world is facing a profound paradox.
‘’Never before has the world possessed such immense capabilities to advance human welfare at this scale. At the same time, we are witnessing levels of conflict, violence and instability that threaten even those who may be far away. To address this complexity, the United Nations must take the lead and the Security Council must show the way. Elections to its membership consequently assume great importance,’’ he said.
Elections for the 2028-29 term will be held in June next year, when India and Tajikistan will contest the only seat from the Asia-Pacific category.
Strongly batting for India’s candidature, Jaishankar said the country’s focus will be on working for a secure, peaceful and equitable world.
He said India will strive for a world where the voice of the Global South is heard in equal measure and where peacekeeping is ready for contemporary and future challenges. ‘’A world where multilateralism reflects contemporary realities and provides effective solutions, not remains a bystander. A world where the promise of technology is fully realized while safeguarding against its misuse and misapplication. A world as well, whose oceans are safe and secure, so that maritime lifelines are not threatened. A world where the scourge of terrorism is countered by choking the resources that feed it. And a world where climate action and climate justice, clean energy transitions and sustainable growth are both valued and pursued,’’ the minister added.
According to Jaishankar, recent developments have only demonstrated that peace, progress and prosperity cannot be sustained in a fragmented manner. ‘’We are too tightly bound, whether it is through supply chains, technology or communication. The world must, therefore, focus on holistic advancement, both as individual nations and as the international community. But that journey can only be undertaken effectively when global order is valued and rules are respected.’’
This, he said, puts a premium on Norms, on Trust and on Integrity. And that is the approach that India offers. ‘’Securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust and Integrity; i.e., SHANTI, as an acronym, which is our word for Peace,’’ he added.
Jaishankar said India is convinced that peace is strengthened by participation, not achieved by domination. The world is inherently pluralistic and the United Nations itself is constituted on the basis of sovereign equality. It is imperative that globally consequential decisions and policies are made through adequate deliberation, he added.