Macron Supports India's Bid for Permanent UNSC Membership, Advocates for Comprehensive Reforms

French President Emmanuel Macron called for the enhancement of India's position in a more inclusive United Nations Security Council (UNSC) by making it an integral member, along with Germany, Japan, Brazil, and two African nations.

"Germany, Japan, India and Brazil should be permanent members, as well as two countries that Africa would designate to represent it. New elected members should also be admitted," Macron said while addressing the general debate at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York early Thursday, India time.

The French President underscored reforms in the UN to make it effective and representative, particularly in light of the challenges posed by the current structure of the Security Council.

"The United Nations should not be discarded but reformed to reflect today's realities," he said.

He said that the present Security Council, sometimes blocked by conflicting interests, needs to evolve.

"There can't be a better system. I do not think so. Let's just make these United Nations more effective, first by perhaps making them more representative. That is why France and I repeat here, stands in favor of the Security Council being expanded," Macron said.

According to the French President, he hopes that "this reform will also make it possible to change working methods, to limit the right of veto in the event of mass crime and to focus on operational decisions that are necessary to maintain international peace and security. This is what we must have the courage and audacity to do and that we must carry forward with the current permanent members."

Earlier, Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font himself campaigned across the country for India's inclusion and even floated a timeline to reform the UNSC to change its membership according to current geopolitical reality before the UN's 80th anniversary.
Other leaders around the world have also spoken up asking for India's permanent membership, the lastest coming in from US President Joe Biden, who reiterated during his recent bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Washington is fully supportive of India's bid.

Russia, too, maintains its support for India's aspiration to achieve a permanent seat, as the country's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed his views on the 'increased representation for developing countries in the council' during his address for the UN's annual event, which is currently underway.
The rising consensus of world leaders towards reforming the UNSC to mirror the new world order and forging a more representative international governance mechanism that will be operational and effective is one of the critical characteristics.