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‘Absurd’ says Musk on India not being a permanent member of UNSC
Musk's comments were prompted by the UN Secretary-General expressing apprehensions about the lack of representation from any African nation.
India has been actively seeking a permanent seat at the UNSC for an extended period / Image- Pixabay
Billionaire tech magnate Elon Musk has labeled the omission of India as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as "absurd."
The Tesla CEO further remarked that the existing structure of the UNSC fails to adequately represent the world's most populous nations, advocating for a comprehensive overhaul of the agency.
“At some point, there needs to be a revision of the UN bodies. Problem is that those with excess power don’t want to give it up. India not having a permanent seat on the Security Council, despite being the most populous country on Earth, is absurd,” Musk posted on X (formerly Twitter).
At some point, there needs to be a revision of the UN bodies.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 21, 2024
Problem is that those with excess power don’t want to give it up.
India not having a permanent seat on the Security Council, despite being the most populous country on Earth, is absurd.
Africa collectively should…
Musk's comments were prompted by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressing apprehensions about the lack of representation from any African nation among the permanent members of the UNSC.
"How can we accept that Africa still lacks a single Permanent Member in the Security Council? Institutions must reflect today’s world, not that of 80 years ago. September’s Summit of the Future will be an opportunity to consider global governance reforms & re-build trust," Guterres previously wrote on the microblogging site.
How can we accept that Africa still lacks a single Permanent Member in the Security Council?
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) January 20, 2024
Institutions must reflect today’s world, not that of 80 years ago.
September’s Summit of the Future will be an opportunity to consider global governance reforms & re-build trust.
Subsequent to this, Israeli author Michael Eisenberg also questioned the non-inclusion of India as a permanent member of the UNSC. “And what about India? Better yet is to dismantle the @UN and build something new with real leadership," he posted.
And what about India?
India’s efforts for a permanent seat at UNSC
India has been actively seeking a permanent seat at the UNSC for an extended period. However, New Delhi’s efforts to secure the feat have encountered resistance, particularly from China, which has wielded its veto power to impede India's inclusion. Notwithstanding this opposition, other permanent members, such as the United States and France, have expressed support for India's candidacy.
Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar previously referred to the UNSC as an "old club" where current member nations resist accepting new members due to concerns about potential loss of control. “Security Council is like an old club, where there are set members who don't want to let go of the grip. They want to keep control over the club. Not very keen to admit more members, not keen to have their practices questioned," Jaishankar said.
Currently, the five permanent members of the UNSC are the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China. These nations hold considerable influence, including the authority to veto resolutions. In contrast, non-permanent members, elected for two-year terms, contribute to the council's agenda, but do not possess the veto power held by their permanent counterparts.
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