India (Commonwealth Union)_ India took centre stage at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025. Its delegation demonstrated firm diplomacy, bold rebuttals, and strategic proposals, signaling its readiness to lead in humanitarian, technological, and global governance arenas. As the world increasingly talks about remaking the UN to match 21st‑century realities, India’s bid for a permanent seat on the Security Council has gained fresh momentum. Across New York, India’s efforts were bolstered by explicit endorsements from countries like Bhutan and Mauritius. They emphasized the need to recalibrate global institutions to mirror current power dynamics.
Accordingly, Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay insisted that nations like India and Japan deserve permanent seats. Mauritius’ Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful praised India for emerging as a key global player shaping world affairs. Finland’s President Alexander Stubb also called for greater representation for Asia in the UN’s top bodies. India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, framed the debate in broader terms: the Global South cannot wait; multilateral institutions must change now. With the pressure mounting on the United Nations to evolve, India’s campaign is riding a wave of growing international support.
Russia backs India’s UNSC bid
Russia reaffirmed its support during the UNGA session. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stressed that the Security Council must be modernized to match today’s world, not the order of 1945. He affirmed that, alongside Brazil, India should be granted a permanent security council seat to improve representation for Asia, Africa, and Latin America. With that stance, Russia became the only existing permanent member to openly back India’s candidacy. Lavrov argued that the global order has shifted dramatically since the UN’s founding, and that only a reformed Security Council can remain effective and credible.
Bhutan backs India’s bid
The highlight came when Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay used his keynote address to press for sweeping UN changes. He named both India and Japan as deserving candidates for permanent membership, an explicit call for expansion. Tobgay’s remarks underscored a growing Asian consensus on the need for meaningful multilateral reform.
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Mauritius backs India’s bid
Mauritius’ Foreign Minister, Dhananjay Ramful, added his voice to the chorus. He told the Assembly that India has evolved into a major global player and deserves a permanent seat on the Security Council to match its constructive role in world affairs.
Finland backs India’s bid
On a key day of the Assembly, Finland’s President Alexander Stubb backed a revamp of the Security Council. He called for more seats for underrepresented regions and even proposed curbing veto powers. He also supported India’s major role in the UNSC. In his view, the world cannot afford a veto-driven system that blocks reform and progress. Stubb floated a plan: two new permanent spots for Asia, two for Africa, and one for Latin America. He said that any Council member violating the UN Charter should have its voting rights suspended.
Statement from UN Secretary‑General António Guterres
From behind the scenes, the Secretary‑General lent moral weight to the reform push. UN officials said António Guterres is “very supportive” of reshaping the Security Council to reflect the world of 2025, rather than 1945. But he has made clear that the decision about which nations earn permanent seats lies with member states at large. In other words, the vision is endorsed, but the hard political choices are up to the UN’s collective membership.
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G4 countries express support
On the sidelines of the UNGA, the foreign ministers of the G4 countries—India, Brazil, Germany, and Japan—met to coordinate their strategy. In an official statement, they agreed that the Security Council must expand in both permanent and temporary memberships to stay relevant. They warned that in a world facing rising instability, the UN’s central role is at stake if the Security Council remains stuck in the past. That message, they emphasized, is supported by most UN member nations.
BRICS support adds power
At a separate BRICS foreign ministers’ gathering, India and Brazil’s aspirations for greater roles at the UN security table received full-throated backing. The ministers recalled previous BRICS declarations calling for a “more democratic, representative, effective, and efficient” Security Council. China and Russia, both permanent members, reiterated their support for India and Brazil’s ambitions. India’s foreign minister also stressed the need to amplify the voices of the Global South, a theme expected to resonate throughout the UNGA.
Jaishankar’s UNGA address: Bold, direct, visionary
When External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar took the podium, he left nothing ambiguous. He said India is ready to take on more responsibility in a reformed Security Council, calling for expansion of both permanent and non‑permanent seats. India, he declared, should be trusted to carry more weight on global issues. Jaishankar singled out Pakistan as the “epicentre of global terrorism,” pointing to terror networks and sanctuaries operating in that country. He criticized the international community’s complacency on terror finance and cited India’s zero-tolerance approach in the wake of the Pahalgam massacre. At the same time, he laid out India’s guiding principles: Atmanirbharta (self‑reliance), Atmaraksha (self‑defense), and Atmavishwas (self‑confidence). He spoke of India’s rising startup economy, its push to de‑risk supply chains, and a foreign policy that bridges its civilizational identity with modern global ambition.
India’s broader agenda at UNGA
Beyond headlines, India engaged in multiple bilateral talks, including with UN Secretary‑General António Guterres. Conversations touched on global uncertainty, sustainable development, technology governance, and regional security. India hoped that by combining public advocacy and discreet diplomacy, it might secure its status as a responsible architect of the global system, rather than just a challenger. At the 2025 UNGA, India pitched itself as a problem-solver, champion of sovereignty, and advocate for 21st-century reform.
India’s quest for a permanent UNSC seat
India has long argued for Security Council reform and greater seats for Asian and African nations. But China’s opposition has often blocked progress. Of the current five permanent members, India maintains good relations with all except China. France is already on board with India’s bid. In theory, if China steps aside, India’s path toward a permanent seat becomes much more viable. Under current rules, any Security Council decision needs the backing of at least nine of 15 members. But a single veto from one permanent member can kill a proposal outright. Today, the Council is comprised of five permanent members: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, each with veto power. The remaining ten seats are alternated between non-permanent members elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms.
If India’s campaign succeeds, it will shift the balance of power in global diplomacy. However, making desire a reality would require overcoming entrenched interests, reversing vetoes, and forging a broad coalition of UN member states. Overall, the 2025 UNGA emphasized India’s bold bid for structural reform within the United Nations. Additionally, India, backed by voices from Asia, Africa, and Europe, and now with one sitting permanent member, is no longer requesting to join the club; it is pushing to redefine it.
