The UK’s veto power and India’s growing role: A fair UNSC update for 2027

Fifteen years ago, Martin Wolf highlighted that it would seem strange for the United Kingdom to have a permanent seat on the UNSC. He also pointed out that India did not get the seat. Furthermore, the situation remains the same and this still seems unfair for many. Back to years. When the United Nations was created. Its founders gave the most powerful countries at that time special roles, including the ability to veto decisions, to keep them engaged in the organization. 

But at that time, they did not make any plan related to how to update these roles with the changes in different parameters across the world. Back to 1945, when the United Kingdom was a major global power with colonies around the world, including India.  Furthermore, the economy of this nation was much larger than India till 1980. But by 2045, India may cover this gap and the economy of India is expected to be significantly bigger than the United Kingdom. This big change makes it unfair for the UK to keep its veto power while India still doesn’t have one.

If there is no change in the situation then the United Nation loses its credibility. Furthermore, one of the biggest concerns is that India could have enough power to ignore all decisions made by the United Nations Security Council. Especially if India does not secure a permanent seat on the council. 

One of the possible solutions to make the situation better is that the UK should give its seat to India. Politically, this would depend on the internal dynamics within the council. While it might seem like a significant move for the UK, it wouldn’t actually change much since the UK has already stopped using its veto power independently. The last time they exercised it alone was in 1972, and they haven’t used it at all since 1989.

Unfortunately, the United Kingdom no longer makes its own decision in the United Nations Security Council. Back to 2003, the Iraq war, at that time UK did not agree with the United State stance. But they still stood in favor of the US. While many other countries strongly opposed the United States. France and Germany were top of the table in this opposition. 

IF the United Kingdom no longer stays in the United Nations Security Council,  it wouldn’t be forced to always agree with the US, even when that might not be the right choice. This move could make the UK a good friend. Because this nation gives advice to the country that hasn’t fully grasped how much the world has changed. There are many key players on the global stage rather than the United States. The UK could help the US adapt to this new situation.

One of the wiseable moves is to add India to the Security Council. This is because eIndia can connect with both Eastern and Western countries. India can collaborate with Australia, Japan and the United States. At the same time, this nation also works with China and Russia. Furthermore,  India could represent the majority of people around the world, as power shifts from the G7 nations to those in the global south. India understands in a better way the needs of these countries. Also this nation helped the African Union into the G20.

It would be fair for India, if the United Kingdom gave up its seat on the UNSC to this nation. Many residents of the United Kingdom think that British rule was beneficial for India. But in reality that’s not true. According to Shashi Tharoor, the UK became powerful by taking advantage of India. Many Indians died during that time due to harsh policies of Britians. 

The UK still hasn’t returned the Koh-i-noor diamond to India, even though it was stolen from a young Indian ruler whose mother was imprisoned by the British. To make up for this, the UK could give India a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

Sir Keir Starmer’s government will need time to think about this big change. There will be strong opposition from those who don’t want to give up old privileges, just like how people resisted moving to more democratic systems in the past.

The UK can give a big gift to India in 2027. Because,  it will be 80 years since India became free from British rule. This would also make the stronger partnership between India and UK

It would also be a chance to update the United Nations Security Council to include the powerful countries of today, not just those from the past.