Promote Common Security Through Dialogue and Cooperation: UNSC

• 22 Sep 2022

For Prelims: UNSC and its features, International Code of Justice.

For Mains: Promote Common Security Through Dialogue and Cooperation, UNSC Meeting.

Why in News?

Recently, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN addressed a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting on the topic ‘Promote Common Security Through Dialogue and Cooperation.

• The UNSC meeting was convened at the behest of China, the president of the Security Council for August 2022 and a veto-wielding member of the 15-member Council.

What are the Key Highlights of the Address?

• All countries should respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and respect international agreements.
• Common security was only possible when countries stand together on terrorism and do not practice double standards on the issue and when they do not take unilateral measures to back out of agreements.
• India called for multilateral reform, particularly at the Security Council, saying common security among nations could not be aspired for if the common good of the global south was denied representation.
  • The most urgent thing is to make the Security Council more representative of developing countries so as to reflect current geopolitical realities, the African continent should also have permanent representation on the Council.
• An armed conflict in one part of the world has cascading effects on the people of another.
  • We have seen the effect of the Ukraine Conflict on other developing countries, particularly, on the supply of food grains, fertilizer and fuel.
• The impact of the Crisis in Afghanistan is still being felt throughout the region.
• China has repeatedly blocked the attempts of India and the US at the UN to blacklist Pakistan-based terrorists.
• While emphasizing on Common Security, India targeted China, which has violated border pacts by amassing its military in eastern Ladakh in 2020.
  • The eastern Ladakh border standoff between India and China erupted on 5th May, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong lake areas.
  • Both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry.
• China claims nearly all of the disputed South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts of it.

What is UNSC?

• About:
  • The Security Council was established by the UN Charter in 1945. It is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations.
    • The other 5 organs of the United Nations are—the General Assembly (UNGA), the Trusteeship Council, the Economic and Social Council, the International Court of Justice, and the Secretariat.
  • The UNSC, with a mandate to maintain international peace and security, is the centrepiece of global multilateralism.
  • It selects the UN Secretary-General and plays a co-terminus role with the UN General Assembly in electing judges to the International Court of Justice.
    • Its resolutions, adopted under chapter VII of the UN charter, are binding on all countries.
• Composition:
  • The UNSC is composed of 15 members, 5 permanent and 10 non-permanent.
  • Five permanent members: China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
  • Ten non-permanent members: Elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly.
    • Five from African and Asian States,
    • One from Eastern European States,
    • Two from Latin American States,
    • Two from Western European and other States.
• India’s Membership:
  • India has served seven times in the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member and in January 2021, India entered the UNSC for the eighth time.
  • India has been advocating a permanent seat in UNSC.
• Voting Powers:
  • Each member of the Security Council has one vote. Decisions of the Security Council on matters are made by an affirmative vote of nine members including the concurring votes of the permanent members.
  • A "No" vote from one of the five permanent members blocks the passage of the resolution.

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Prelims

Q. The Security Council of UN consists of 5 permanent members, and the remaining 10 members are elected by the General Assembly for a term of (2009)

(a) 1 year
(b) 2 years
(c) 3 years
(d) 5 years

Ans: (b)

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Mains

Q. Discuss the impediments India is facing in its pursuit of a permanent seat in UN Security Council. (2015)

Source: TH