France's Macron backs India's bid for permanent seat in UN Security Council

Along with supporting India's push to be a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, Emmanuel Macron batted for representation from Africa.

In Short

• Emmanuel Macron makes remark during UN General Assembly address
• Wants UN to be more efficient, inclusive
• Backs Germany, Japan, India and Brazil for permanent membership

During his address at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron batted for India's addition as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

He also supported the candidacy of Brazil, Japan, Germany and two countries from Africa to make the UNSC more inclusive and representative.

"Let's make the UN more efficient. We need to make it more representative and that's why France is in favour of the Security Council being expanded. Germany, Japan, India, and Brazil should be permanent members, along with two countries that Africa will decide to represent them," he said.

Only five countries - US, China, Russia, France and the UK have a permanent seat at the UNSC. Several countries, including the US and France have advocated for India to become a part of this powerful group. However, China has been against it.

A similar sentiment was projected following the Quad Leaders' Summit hosted by US President Joe Biden in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware. Leaders from US, India, Australia and Japan reiterated the need for a comprehensive reform of the UN to make it more representative and called for its expansion to include representation from more countries in a joint statement following the summit.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has previously spoken about the skewed geographical representation in the UNSC. He has questioned the UNSC's claim to speak for the world when the entire continents of Africa and Latin America are devoid of a space in the UN body.

"How can we talk of it as a primary organ of a global body, when entire continents of Africa and Latin America are ignored? How can it claim to speak for the world when its most populous country, and its largest democracy, is not a permanent member," PM Modi said last year.

In addition to permanent members, the UNSC also recognises non-permanent members, elected for two-year terms, who contribute to the council's agenda but lack the veto power of their permanent counterparts.

India has been elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council eight times, with the most recent being the 2021-22 term.