UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has officially voiced support for India’s inclusion as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). During his address at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday, Starmer stressed the need for a more representative and effective Security Council, calling for reforms that would include India as a permanent member.
“The Security Council has to change to become a more representative body, willing to act – not paralysed by politics,” the UK Prime Minister said. He also advocated for permanent African representation, alongside Brazil, Japan, Germany, and India, and called for an increase in the number of elected members.
This endorsement follows similar statements made by US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron, who both advocated for India’s inclusion in the UNSC during their addresses to the UN General Assembly. Biden expressed his support for India’s permanent seat during bilateral talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September, while Macron called for an expanded and more inclusive Security Council.
Currently, the UNSC consists of five permanent members—Russia, the United Kingdom, China, France, and the United States—who hold veto power, and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.
This growing international support reflects the broader recognition of India’s global role and its significance in the multilateral system.
