After BRICS Backs ‘Greater Role’, US Economist Throws Weight Behind India For UNSC Seat: ‘No Country Has Stronger Claim’

American economist Jeffrey Sachs has said India has the strongest claim among countries seeking to become the sixth permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), urging China to support New Delhi’s bid.

The Columbia University professor said India’s vast population, economic strength, growing global influence and diplomatic role make a compelling case for permanent membership.

“Think of all countries in the world, there is no country other than India that has such a strong claim as the sixth permanent member of the UN Security Council,” Sachs told news agency PTI in an interview.

His remarks came during the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, where leaders backed the aspirations of India and Brazil to play a greater role in the United Nations, including its Security Council.

‘India Is A Superpower’

Sachs highlighted India’s population and status as the world’s most populous country.

“India’s 1.5 billion people. It’s the most populous nation. It’s a superpower. It’s the world’s third largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity. It is a rapidly growing economy,” he said.

He also pointed to India’s diplomatic record, citing the recently concluded BRICS summit in Delhi and India’s presidency of the G20.

“It’s extremely deft at diplomacy, as we just saw in the BRICS summit, and as we saw when India chaired the G20 as well,” Sachs said.

“To my mind, to build that multilateralism, India absolutely should be a member of the UN Security Council,” he added.

Sachs Urges India, China To Work Together

Sachs also called on India and China to overcome their differences and work more closely together, specifically urging Beijing to support New Delhi’s bid for a permanent Security Council seat.

“I always urge India and China to work closely together on everything to overcome divisions, and for China to support India as the sixth permanent member of the UN Security Council,” he said.

Sachs argued that such cooperation would send a broader message in favour of multilateralism.

“Because I think that that would say not only to the United States, but to everybody, look, we big countries take responsibility for multilateralism. We work together. We reject hegemony by the US or by the West,” he said.

BRICS Backs India’s UNSC Aspirations

Sachs’ comments came days after BRICS leaders adopted the New Delhi Declaration at the group’s 18th summit in the Indian capital.

The declaration said China and Russia, which are both permanent members of the Security Council, “reiterate their support to the aspirations of Brazil and India to play a greater role in the UN, including its Security Council”.

How The UNSC Is Structured

The UN Security Council currently has 15 members — five permanent members and 10 non-permanent members elected by the UN General Assembly for two-year terms.

The permanent members are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Each of the five permanent members has veto power, allowing it to block substantive resolutions with a negative vote.

The Council is responsible for maintaining international peace and security. Its powers include imposing sanctions, authorising peacekeeping missions and, in certain circumstances, approving the use of force.

China’s Position On India’s Permanent Seat Bid

India has for years advocated expanding the Security Council to reflect contemporary global realities. While the other four permanent members have backed India’s candidature, China has previously stopped short of formally supporting New Delhi’s bid for a permanent seat.

Any expansion of the Council’s permanent membership would require broad agreement among UN member states and amendments to the UN Charter.