UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly calls for expansion of UNSC with India as one of permanent members

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has called for an expansion of the United Nations Security Council with India as one of its permanent members. In his opening remarks at the Council on Foreign Relations on Tuesday, he said that the challenges the world presents are legion, which means that a voice should be given to the emerging powers in the world. Along with India, he also included Brazil, Germany and Japan in the list of countries that should have a permanent membership of the UN body. Mr. Cleverly further emphasised that Africa deserves a louder voice on the world stage. He also called for a positive progress and getting the Sustainable Development Goals back on track.

Mr. Cleverly in his address further spoke about his recent visit to Beijing. He highlighted China’s treatment of the Uyghur Muslim minority in Xinjiang . He also underscored Beijing’s failure to abide by the commitment to freely enter Hong Kong as well as their aggressive posture across the Taiwan Strait. Targetting Russia, he said that President Vladimir Putin was wrong in believing that he could outlast Ukraine and its friends around the world. He said that the Russia has suffered many times more fatalities in combat in just over eighteen months than the Soviets did during their 10 years in Afghanistan.

Reforms in the global systems have been an issue continuously raised by India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at global fora. During his concluding address at the G20 Leaders Summit in Delhi, PM Modi has reiterated his stance of making global systems in accordance with the realities of the present. He took the example of the United Nations Security Council in his address.