In a push for significant reforms within the United Nations (UN) bodies, Tesla CEO and Twitter owner Elon Musk called for a revision, labeling India’s absence from a permanent seat on the UN Security Council as “absurd.” Musk emphasized that countries with excess power are reluctant to relinquish it and argued for Africa to collectively hold a permanent membership in the UN.
Taking to social media platform X, Musk stated, “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. Africa collectively should also have a permanent seat imo.”
The entrepreneur’s remarks come as UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres made a plea for the organization to reflect the realities of the contemporary world, pointing out the lack of a single permanent member from Africa in the Security Council. Guterres urged for global governance reforms and emphasized the need to rebuild trust.
India, having served as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for eight terms (16 years), has consistently advocated for reforms within the UNSC. The country is part of the G4, a group advocating for each other’s bid for permanent membership in the UNSC.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had earlier highlighted growing global support for India’s permanent membership at the UNSC, emphasizing that sometimes one has to seize opportunities as they may not be given generously.
In September 2023, Jaishankar expressed concerns about the UN’s reluctance to reform its structure, stating that it risks becoming “anachronistic.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi echoed these sentiments, noting the outdated structure of the UN despite the significant increase in the number of member countries.
Elon Musk’s call for reform adds another influential voice to the ongoing global dialogue about reshaping international institutions to better represent the contemporary geopolitical landscape. The discussion revolves around the need for inclusivity and a more equitable distribution of power within key decision-making bodies.
Sources By Agencies