India’s long‑standing campaign for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has received fresh support, with the four members of the Visegrad Group (V4) — Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic — collectively endorsing New Delhi’s candidature on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
The endorsement comes at a time when calls for reforming the UNSC are growing louder across the world. Speaking after a meeting with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar said the V4 countries believe that India, as a leading voice of the Global South and an increasingly influential power in the Indo‑Pacific, deserves a permanent place on the Security Council.
The latest backing adds to a long list of countries that have publicly supported India’s bid. Over the years, major powers including the United States, France, Russia, and the United Kingdom have advocated a greater role for India within the UN system. India argues that the current structure of the Security Council no longer reflects global realities and underrepresents developing nations from Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
The Security Council was created in 1945 in the aftermath of World War II. Its five permanent members — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States — continue to hold veto power. Critics say the body has changed little despite major geopolitical shifts over the past eight decades.
India has consistently pushed for reforms that would expand both permanent and non‑permanent membership categories. Supporters of India’s candidature point to its status as the world’s most populous country, one of the largest economies, a major contributor to UN peacekeeping missions, and a key player in addressing global challenges.
However, significant hurdles remain. Any reform requires broad international consensus, and the position of existing permanent members, particularly China, continues to be a crucial factor in determining the pace of change.