New Delhi: Former Singaporean diplomat Professor Kishore Mahbubani has called for a major reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), proposing that the United Kingdom should relinquish its permanent seat in favour of India.
In a recent media interview, Mahbubani argued that the UK’s position as a permanent UNSC member is no longer relevant given the current global power dynamics. He emphasized that India, as the world’s third-most influential nation after the United States and China, deserves a permanent seat on the Council. “India is unquestionably the third-most powerful country in the world today, while Great Britain’s global influence has waned,” Mahbubani asserted.
Mahbubani criticised the UK for its hesitance to use its veto power—a privilege reserved for permanent members of the UNSC—due to fears of international backlash. He suggested that the UK relinquishing its seat would be a logical step, allowing India to assume this role. “The most sensible action for the UK is to cede its seat to India,” Mahbubani remarked.
The former diplomat also stressed the importance of updating the UNSC’s composition to reflect contemporary global power structures better. He drew a parallel with the collapse of the League of Nations, highlighting that the UN’s founders intended to include the major powers of their era to ensure the organization’s effectiveness. “The lesson learned from the League of Nations’ failure was that the organization collapses if it does not include the great powers of the present, not just those of the past,” Mahbubani noted.
Additionally, Mahbubani suggested that the UK’s exit from the UNSC could enable it to pursue a more independent foreign policy.