G-4 countries have called for the urgent reform of the United Nations and updating its main decision-making bodies in order to better reflect contemporary realities

G-4 countries comprising India, Brazil, Germany and Japan have expressed their concern at the lack of any meaningful movement forward in the Intergovernmental Negotiations on the Security Council reform.

“After two sessions in February and March – the IGN was adjourned due to COVID-19 and no further meetings were held thereafter. However, virtual meetings or a written process could have taken place to allow for progress to be made in the previous session,” the foreign ministers of G-4 countries said in their joint statement on Wednesday.

In their virtual meet which was held during the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the four foreign ministers maintained, “The world of today is very different from what it was when the United Nations was created 75 years ago. There are more countries, more people, more challenges but also more solutions. Our working methods need to keep pace and adapt. (...) We reiterate our call for reforms of three of the principal organs of the United Nations. We commit to instill new life in the discussions on the reform of the Security Council.”

At the meet while India was represented by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Japan was led by Minister for Foreign Affairs Motegi Toshimitsu, Brazil was led by Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo, while Germany was represented by Niels Annen, Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office on behalf of Foreign Minister Heiko Maas.

As foreign ministers of G-4 countries highlighted the urgency of reforming the United Nations and updating its main decision-making bodies, in order to better reflect contemporary realities, they expressed their disappointment at attempts to derail the process of the UN reform by “addressing the issue in a meaningful way.”

They added: “As part of reforming the Security Council an expansion of the Security Council in both categories will be indispensable to make this body more representative, legitimate and effective, enhancing therefore its capacity to deal with the complex challenges the world faces today on questions of international peace and security.”

In no uncertain terms, they said that “if we manage to reform the Security Council, we will stop it becoming obsolete.”

“Broader membership of the Security Council, with increased and enhanced representation of countries with the capacity and willingness to contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security, including from Africa, will allow it to preserve its credibility and create the political backing needed for the peaceful resolution of today’s international crises,” foreign minister of India, Brazil, Japan and Germany said in their joint statement.