- Thursday, February 27, 2025
The Indian prime minister spoke on the issue and many others during an interview with French publication Les Echos before leaving for Paris on Thursday, July 13.
By: Shubham Ghosh
STRONGLY Pushing for India’s permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council, prime minister Narendra Modi has said that the South Asian country, which is now the most populous in the world, “needs to regain its rightful place”.
“The issue is not just of credibility, but something much larger. How can the UN Security Council claim to speak for the world when its most populous country and its largest democracy is not a permanent member?” the prime minister said in an interview with French publication Les Echos ahead of his two-day visit to France kicking off on Thursday (13).
According to Modi, the council’s “skewed membership” results in “opaque decision making processes” and leaves the body helpless in addressing challenges of the day. He said most countries are clear on what changes they would want to see in the Security Council, including on the role India should play.
Modi added that French president Emmanuel Macron shared his view.
The US, UK, Russia, China and France are the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. Four of these countries excluding China have supported India’s bid to become a permanent member of the body. The permanent members have a decisive veto power — a negative vote that will block adoption of a draft resolution in the council.
Modi, who will attend France’s Bastille Day Parade celebrations as a guest of honour on Friday (14), spoke to the French media outlet at his official residence in Delhi ahead of the visit.
“As the world’s largest democracy, with unparalleled social and economic diversity, our success will demonstrate that democracy delivers. That it is possible for harmony to exist amidst diversity. At the same time, there is a natural expectation of adjustments in the international system and institutions to give the rightful place to the world’s largest democracy,” Modi was quoted as saying.
The Indian leader also stressed on India’s role as a bridge between the Global South and the west.
“The rights of the Global South have been long denied. As a result, there is a feeling of anguish among the members of Global South, that they are forced into undertaking action but when it comes to decision making they don’t find a place or voice for themselves. The true spirit of democracy has not been respected vis-a-vis the Global South,” he said.
Modi also spoke about his often quoted comment to Russian president Vladimir Putin on Ukraine war last September that today is not an era of war.
“India’s stand has been clear, transparent and consistent. I have said that it is not an era of war. We have urged both sides to resolve issues through dialogue and diplomacy. I told them that India is ready to support all genuine efforts that can help bring this conflict to an end,” he said.
Speaking on India’s soft power, Modi said the country’s exports have never been war and subjugation but yoga, ayurveda, spirituality, science, mathematics and astronomy.
“We have always been a contributor to global peace and progress,” he said.
When the French publication asked Modi about the challenges posed by China’s aggression and what India expects from France in terms of strategic support in the stand-off against the Chinese, the prime minister said the partnership between India and France, including that in the Indo Pacific region, is not aimed at any country.
” Our aim is to safeguard our economic and security interests, ensure freedom of navigation and commerce, advance the rule of international law in the region,” he said.
