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'India Not Having A Permanent Seat On Security Council Is Absurd': Elon Musk Bats For UNSC Reforms

Nayan DwivediJan 23, 2024, 12:55 PM | Updated 12:55 PM IST
Tesla's Elon Musk with Prime Minister Narendra Modi (X)

Tesla's Elon Musk with Prime Minister Narendra Modi (X)


Tesla’s Elon Musk has spoken out in favour of India having a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), calling the current situation "absurd."

Musk highlighted that despite being the most populous country globally, India does not have a permanent seat in the UNSC.

The UNSC currently has five permanent members with veto power and ten non-permanent members elected every two years.

India has long sought a permanent UNSC membership but has faced slow progress in the discussions.

Musk pointed out that those in power are reluctant to give it up.

"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," he wrote on X.

Recently, UN Secretary-General António Guterres had advocated for reforms to better reflect the current world, questioning the lack of permanent membership for Africa.

"Institutions must reflect today’s world, not that of 80 years ago," he had said.

In response to a suggestion to "dismantle the UN and create something new with real leadership," by Michael Eisenberg, Musk reiterated his support for India and added that Africa collectively should also have a permanent seat.

The United Nations General Assembly has scheduled the Summit of the Future, titled "Summit of the Future: Multilateral Solutions for a Better Tomorrow," to take place on 22-23 September.

The summit's key goals, as outlined in the summit papers, involve adopting an action-oriented outcome document referred to as the ‘Pact for the Future’.

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