India’s candidature for a seat on the UN Security Council is very likely to succeed, making this its eighth term

With India expecting to be elected as a non-permanent member to the United Nations Security Council later this month, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday outlined the country’s commitment to an effective response to international terrorism and reforming the multilateral system.

India’s priorities for its forthcoming campaign to secure an elected seat on the UN Security Council at elections slated for June 17, 2020 were set out in a brochure released by Jaishankar.

As a single endorsed candidate of the Asia-Pacific Group, India’s candidature is very likely to succeed. In this case, this would be India’s eighth term on the UN Security Council; this two-year tenure will start in January 2021, an official release issued by the ministry said.

The brochure released by Jaishankar set out the key priorities for India. These are:

New Opportunities for progress

An Effective response to international terrorism

Reforming the multilateral system

A comprehensive approach to international peace and security

Promoting technology with a human touch as a driver of solutions

External Affairs Minister Jaishankar referred to the international context that the Security Council would confront, with regard to both new and continuing traditional challenges to international peace and security.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic had contributed to a more complex international economic and political environment, including by limiting the capacity of States to respond to local, regional and global challenges, Jaishankar said.

The minister emphasized India’s long-standing role as a voice of moderation, an advocate of dialogue, and a proponent of international law. He also listed India’s principled approach to international relations, which India’s foreign policy establishment would bring to the table at the UN Security Council once India is elected to a two-year term on the Council.

India’s approach will also be guided by "Five S’s”, as set out by Prime Minister Narendra Modi - Samman (Respect), Samvad (Dialogue), Sahyog (Cooperation), and Shanti (Peace) to create conditions for universal Samriddhi (Prosperity).

India’s overall objective during this tenure in the UN Security Council will be the achievement of N.O.R.M.S: a New Orientation for a Reformed Multilateral System, the press release said.