India has officially commenced its campaign for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2028-29 term, emphasizing its commitment to global governance through its SHANTI vision.
NEW DELHI: On Monday, India launched its campaign to secure a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the term 2028-29. The campaign was officially unveiled by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at the UN headquarters in New York. Jaishankar emphasized the importance of the UNSC in a time marked by increasing global conflicts, violence, and instability.
During the launch, Jaishankar stated, “It’s a pleasure to join you today to launch India’s candidature to serve as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the term 2028-29. We do so at a time when the world is facing a profound paradox.” He highlighted that the escalating levels of conflict threaten not just those in proximity to the violence, but also nations that may seem distant.
Introduction of the SHANTI Vision
In conjunction with its UNSC campaign, Jaishankar introduced India’s SHANTI vision—an acronym for Securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust, and Integrity. This vision serves as a guiding principle for India’s approach to global governance.
Jaishankar articulated that achieving global peace, progress, and prosperity cannot occur in isolation but requires adherence to international norms and fostering trust among nations. “Recent developments have only demonstrated that peace, progress and prosperity cannot be sustained in a fragmented manner,” he noted. He added, “The world must therefore focus on holistic advancement… That journey can only be undertaken effectively when global order is valued and rules are respected.”
India’s Global Priorities
As part of its campaign, India has outlined several priorities, including the promotion of a secure and equitable world, ensuring that the voices of the Global South are amplified, enhancing peacekeeping operations, advocating for responsible technology use, and tackling pressing challenges like terrorism, climate change, and maritime security. Jaishankar reiterated, “India’s focus will be on working for a secure, peaceful, and equitable world—a world where the voice of the Global South is heard in equal measure.”
Peacekeeping Contributions
Jaishankar made a strong case for India’s candidature by highlighting its significant contributions to UN peacekeeping missions. Since the establishment of the United Nations, India has deployed nearly 300,000 personnel across approximately 50 peacekeeping missions. Currently, around 4,300 Indian personnel are serving in 10 of the 11 active UN peacekeeping missions.
He noted, “Peacekeeping has been a crucial element of maintenance of international peace and security since the very inception of the United Nations. India has always been in the forefront of discharging that responsibility.” Jaishankar further stated that India would continue to advocate for better-equipped and technology-driven peacekeeping operations while supporting the Women, Peace, and Security agenda.
Development Partnerships
Beyond peacekeeping, Jaishankar underscored India’s role as a development partner, mentioning that Indian-funded projects are currently active in 79 countries. He emphasized, “In a world with too many conflicts and tensions, India has consistently espoused dialogue and diplomacy. We have sought to bridge differences and find common ground. Our focus has been on mitigating the impact of these developments for the Global South.”
Electoral Landscape and Support Seek
If elected, India would join the ranks of the ten non-permanent members of the UNSC, serving alongside the five permanent members: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The election for this position will be held in June of the following year, with India competing against Tajikistan for the single available seat from the Asia-Pacific Group.
In his appeal for support, Jaishankar stated that India’s presence in the Security Council would enhance decision-making through broader consultations and increased representation. “We believe that India’s presence in the Security Council will help strengthen decision-making in this vital body. We therefore seek your support for our candidacy,” he said.
Historical Context and Reform Advocacy
India has previously held a non-permanent seat on the Security Council eight times, with terms in 1950-51, 1967-68, 1972-73, 1977-78, 1984-85, 1991-92, 2011-12, and most recently in 2021-22. This ongoing campaign is also situated within India’s broader push for reform of the UNSC, which it argues has not kept pace with contemporary geopolitical realities since its structure was established in 1945.
New Delhi continues to advocate for the expansion of both permanent and non-permanent membership categories, asserting that meaningful reforms to the UNSC are contingent upon addressing existing imbalances in decision-making power.
