India's focal point was set on three major areas—maritime security, peacekeeping and counter-terrorism, as it assumed the presidency of the United Nations Security Council for the month of August.
India joined the UNSC in January 2021 for a two year term as one of the 10 rotating non permanent members.
As part of its new role as president of the UNSC that all 15 members get in rotation, India has decided the agenda of the UN’s highest decision making body whose resolutions and directives are binding on all member states. India has also coordinated important meetings on a range of issues during August.
“The Security Council will also have on its agenda several important meetings including Syria, Iraq, Somalia, Yemen, and the Middle East. Security Council will also be adopting important resolutions on Somalia, Mali, and UN Interim Force in Lebanon," T.S. Tirumurti, India’s permanent representative to the UN, said in a video message.
Apart from meeting on maritime security, peacekeeping and counter-terrorism, India organized an event in memory of peacekeepers. India along with Pakistan and Bangladesh, is one of the top contributors to UN peacekeeping operations with men and material.
Ahead of India assuming presidency of the UNSC, Pakistan said it hoped that New Delhi would follow international rules and norms. “We hope that India will abide by the relevant rules and norms governing the conduct of the Security Council Presidency," Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson said.
India has been campaigning for a permanent seat at the UNSC alongside Germany, Japan and Brazil for many years. In recent years, New Delhi has made the theme of “reformed multilateralism" central to its diplomacy—calling the UN structure that came into existence in the immediate aftermath of World War 2 “anachronistic" and in need of urgent change. While the US, France, Britain and Russia are not averse to India joining the UNSC as a permanent member, China has been opposing it. This is seen as due to Beijing’s close ties with India’s arch rival Pakistan. China has also previously indicated that it may drop opposition to India joining the UNSC as a permanent member if it calls off cooperation with Japan to get onto the UN high table.
There is also reportedly no consensus amongst the five permanent veto wielding States – US,UK, France, Russia and China – to share their veto power with any new members for fears of diluting the influence and authority they currently wield.