United Nations Security Council (UNSC)

United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Latest News

Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the UN, who chairs the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on UNSC reforms, recently affirmed that India will “surely” be a strong contender if the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is expanded.

About the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)

• The UNSC is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations (UN), with the primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security.
• Under the UN Charter, all member states must comply with UNSC decisions.
• It determines threats to peace, recommends settlement methods, imposes sanctions, and authorises military actions.

Structure and Membership

• The UNSC consists of 15 members, each having one vote.
• Five permanent members (P5) with veto power:
• China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
• Ten non-permanent members, elected by the UN General Assembly for two-year terms, with equitable geographical representation:
  • 5 from Africa/Asia, 1 from Eastern Europe, 2 from Latin America, and 2 from Western Europe/others
• The UNSC is headquartered at the United Nations Headquartersin New York City.

G4 Nations’ Position and India’s Advocacy

• India, Brazil, Germany, and Japan (G4) are actively advocating UNSC reform. At a recent IGN meeting, India’s Permanent Representative declared the current UNSC structure outdated, no longer reflecting contemporary geopolitical realities.
• The G4 proposal calls for:
  • Expanding the Council from 15 to 25 or 26 members
  • Including 11 permanent members and 14–15 non-permanent members
  • Encouraging Member States to submit models to enable formal negotiations

United Nations Security Council (UNSC) FAQs

Q1. What is the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)?
Ans. UNSC is one of the six principal organs of the UN responsible for maintaining international peace and security.

Q2. How many members are there in the UNSC?
Ans. The UNSC has 15 members — 5 permanent (P5) members and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.

Q3. Who are the permanent members of the UNSC?
Ans. The P5 members are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, each holding veto power.

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Source: IT