India's moment under the UN sun: World leaders back UNSC seat for Delhi

It's India's moment under the global sun as world leaders backed a permanent seat for the world's fifth-largest economy in the UN Security Council.

- MANISH CHAND

Spanning north and south, east and west, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar put the global spotlight on a rising India and a rising Global South at the UN General Assembly, exhorting world leaders to forge a more inclusive and democratic world order.

In a week of intense high-wire diplomacy that included meetings in bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral formats, India's overarching message was that of peace and dialogue to resolve pressing conflicts such as Ukraine and Gaza and the need for collective efforts to fashion a more inclusive UN and international world order.

Dr Jaishankar interacted with foreign ministers of over 40 countries in the past week on the sidelines of the UNGA, and highlighted the urgency of UN Security Council reforms, the need for inclusive multilateralism and greater prominence of Global South in the international arena.

Dr Jaishankar's diplomatic engagements at the UN General Assembly showcased India's unprecedented diplomatic outreach as he held meetings with global leaders ranging from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and UNGA President Philemon Yang to foreign ministers from Europe, Asia, Africa, Caribbean and small island countries. His discussions spanned key global issues such as UN reforms, climate action, and the Ukraine conflict. Jaishankar also engaged with plurilateral groupings like BRICS, G20, BIMSTEC, CARICOM, and CELAC, focusing on enhancing South-South cooperation connectivity, and trade, solidifying India's role as a key player in global diplomacy.

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