India, Germany Commit To Intensify Efforts For 'Overdue' UNSC Reform

India and Germany on Monday (2 May) committed to intensify efforts for reforms in the United Nations Security Council to make it "reflective of contemporary realities".

India, Germany along with Brazil and South Africa are four countries ("Group of Four") which support each other's bids for permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council.

In a joint statement, released after the meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the two nations stressed on "effective and reformed multilaterism" in the global body.

"Firmly convinced of the importance of a rules-based international order with the United Nations at its core and respect for international law, Germany and India underlined the importance of effective and reformed multilateralism," the Joint statement reads.

The two nations "renewed their call to reform the multilateral system in light of pressing global challenges such as climate change, poverty, global food security, threats to democracy such as misinformation, international conflicts and crises and international terrorism,"

"As long-standing members of the "Group of Four”, the two Governments are committed to intensify their efforts to spur on an overdue reform of the UN Security Council in order to make it fit for this purpose and reflective of contemporary realities," the statement reads.

"Both Governments underline to support each other in relevant elections," it added.

Germany also reiterated its steadfast support for India’s early entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

Further, both sides stressed the significance of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific, recognising the centrality of ASEAN.

"They acknowledged the Policy Guidelines for the Indo-Pacific of the German Federal Government, the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative enunciated by India," the statement reads.