India has rejected proposals for a third category of membership in the Security Council that would have longer terms and be eligible for re-election, calling it a ploy to delay reforms. India’s Deputy Permanent Representative Yojna Patel stated that the suggestion would keep the UN in a crisis of legitimacy for decades. The proposal for this third category, known as Fixed Regional Seats, was put forth by a group opposing expanding permanent membership, including Italy and Pakistan.
The Uniting for Consensus (UfC) group, led by Italy with Pakistan as a member, proposed the third category as an alternative to expanding permanent membership, which it opposes. Japan’s Permanent Representative, speaking for the Group of 4 including India, emphasized that the proposed seats are not fundamentally different from the current non-permanent seats. The G4, comprising India, Japan, Germany, and Brazil, advocates for expanding permanent membership.
Saint Lucia’s Permanent Representative, speaking for the L.69 group that includes India, expressed concern over any intermediate proposal that substitutes the expansion of membership categories. Patel rejected the idea of granting vetoes to Fixed Regional Seat-holders, emphasizing the need for meaningful reforms through the expansion of both permanent and non-permanent categories. She highlighted the importance of addressing the under-representation of certain regions in the Council for comprehensive reform.
