Feature Image Courtesy: ClearIAS
After the successful completion of the G-20 summit that saw the inclusion of the African Union into its fold due to efforts made by India, in New York, the Foreign Ministers of G4 countries — India, Brazil, Germany, and Japan discussed the reformation and democratization of the UN Security Council.
Foreign Minister of Brazil Mauro Vieira, Federal Foreign Minister of Germany Annalena Baerbock, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Yoko Kamikawa, and Ministry of External Affairs, Secretary (West), Sanjay Verma met in the margins of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly and discussed on the much-needed reforms of UNGA.
In a join statement issued by the G-4, that read “The Ministers underscored that multilateralism is under significant strain due to multiple and complex crises. Moreover, they concurred that the UN Security Council’s inability to effectively and timely address contemporary global challenges reinforces the urgent need for its comprehensive reform so that it better reflects contemporary geopolitical realities,”.
Post-Cold War there have been efforts to expand the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in both permanent and non-permanent categories of membership because it is essential to make the body more representative, legitimate, effective, and efficient. With the changing dynamics in geopolitics, all four foreign ministers agreed on the need to enhance the role and participation of developing countries in the Security Council, in both the permanent and non-permanent categories of members.
In the last ten years, there have been strong voices raised to recognize the historical injustice with regard to only five countries having the veto power in the Security Council, which has undermined the importance of increasing participation of under-represented and unrepresented groups and regions, such as Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean.
“In this context, the G4 Ministers reaffirmed their strong support to the Common African Position (CAP) and emphasized that Africa needs to be represented in both the permanent and non-permanent categories of membership of a reformed and expanded Security Council, in line with the CAP as enshrined in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration,” the joint statement further stated.
On the subject of the absence of meaningful progress on Security Council reform in the IGN (Intergovernmental Negotiations framework), the joint statement read, “In this context, the Ministers noted the Co-Chair’s proposal for a structured dialogue on individual models proposed by States and Groups and encourage renewed efforts by the PGA and the Co-Chairs to commence text-based negotiations without any further delay in the IGN”.
“They stressed, in doing so, the importance of adhering to the decision-making requirements and working methods laid out in the Charter of the United Nations and the rules and procedures of the General Assembly” it added.
“They reiterated their commitment to address the issue in the upcoming 78th Session of the UNGA and agreed to intensify dialogue with all Member States, with an aim to achieve concrete outcomes within a fixed time frame,” the statement further said.
It is now widely recognized that the G-4 is a power block and if Brazil is excluded, behind China which is the world’s second-largest economy, Japan, Germany, and India take the spot as leaders in GDP. This reality is now being put in motion to enhance the role and participation of G4 members as major contributing countries to the maintenance of international peace and security in the Security Council.
“The Ministers stressed that the future of international governance structures rests on their capacity to adapt and remain fit for purpose. The longer it takes to reform the UN Security Council, the more its effectiveness will be called into question,” the joint statement added.
But the most important meeting of the G4 Ministers resulted in their support for each other’s candidatures as new permanent members in a reformed and democratized Security Council, which will lead to an open, transparent, and inclusive process, consistent with the UN Charter.
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