Why in News ?

G4 for UN Security Council. Foreign Ministers from the Group of 4, India, Brazil, Japan and Germany that is seeking permanent membership of the UN Security Council (UNSC), met virtually to further their objective. 

• The four countries stressed delivering concrete outcomes, in writing and within a time frame.

About the Virtual Meet

• Towards the early and comprehensive reform of the Security Council that was envisaged by Heads of State and Government in the 2005 World Summit.
• The G4 will work with other reform-minded countries and groups to start text-based negotiations (TBN) without delay and seek concrete outcomes during the 75th session of the UN General Assembly.
  • The UN will celebrate its 75th anniversary on 24th October 2020.
  • Text-Based Negotiations (TBN)
    • Negotiations formalizes the process of carrying out Security Council reforms.
    • So far, discussions have been going on without a formal text.
    • US and Russia have been supporting India’s bid, China has been against any expansion of the Security Council.
    • If draft is agreed y the UN member countries will be put to vote at the General Assembly, where a two-thirds vote is needed to pass it.
    • China are hesitant to have TBN for inter-governmental negotiations on the grounds that the matter is too sensitive for text.
  • Africa needs to be represented in both the permanent and non-permanent categories of membership of a reformed and expanded Security Council
    • Helps to correct the historical injustice against this continent with regard to its under representation in the Security Council

India for Permanent Member ship

• India, which will commence a two-year non-permanent term on the UNSC sought a permanent seat at the Council
• Also is a proponent of other UNSC reforms such as increasing the number of permanent (currently five) and non-permanent (currently 10) seats and ensuring greater representation for Africa.

G4 For UNSC Reform

• The G4 (Brazil, India, Japan and Germany) proposes expanding UNSC membership from
  • 15 to 25 by adding six permanent members and four non-permanent members the objective of the G4 obtaining permanent membership.
  • The G-4 agree to forego their right to the veto for at least 15 years.
• The permanent seats shall be elected in the following manner :
  • Two from African States
  • Two from Asian States
  • One from Latin American and Caribbean States
  • One from Western European and Other States.
• Brazil has received backing from three of the current permanent members, namely France, Russia and the United Kingdom.
• Japan has received support from the United States[6] and the United Kingdom.

Who were opposing G4 for UN Security Council and Why ?

• Discontent among the present permanent members regarding the inclusion of countries not supported by them.
  • Japan is opposed by China, Russia South Korea for their WW II War crimes.
  • India is currently not opposed by any P5 nation but China and Pakistan as main opponent. 
    • China only ready to support India’s bid for a permanent seat on United Nations Security Council if India did not associate its bid with Japan.
  • Most European countries oppose Germany for their WW II War crimes.
• With strong opposition under Italy and their supporters strongly oppose the G4.
  • Oppose because the rise of some nearby country to permanent member status.

Source : The Hindu

Topic

GS II : Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate

Current Affairs Compilation : 24 September 2020