G20 Summit: US President Joe Biden backs India’s bid for permanent UN security council seat

In a significant development following bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, United States President Joe Biden has shown his support for India’s quest for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. The joint statement issued by the leaders on September 8 highlighted their shared belief in the necessity of a more inclusive and representative global governance structure.

Candidature welcomed

President Biden reaffirmed his support for a reformed UN Security Council that would feature India as a permanent member. Furthermore, he extended his welcome to India’s candidature for the UNSC non-permanent seat during the 2028–29 term. The statement emphasized their mutual commitment to enhancing and revitalizing the multilateral system to better align with the realities of today’s world. This commitment encompasses a comprehensive reform agenda for the United Nations, including expansions in both permanent and non-permanent membership categories within the UN Security Council.

Current UN security council composition

It is important to note that the UN Security Council currently consists of five permanent members—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—each possessing veto power. Additionally, there are ten non-permanent members, with five elected annually by the UN General Assembly and serving two-year terms.

Interestingly, two of the permanent members, China and Russia, are not being represented by their heads of state at the G20 Leaders’ Summit on September 9–10 in New Delhi.