Story perspectives

India Urges Security Council Reform Against Veto Expansion

By Drooid · Oct 27, 2026, 10:06 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Harish Parvathaneni, India’s UN Permanent Representative, urged Security Council reform at the General Assembly on Monday.
India says extending veto rights to all members and a non-veto permanent seat would entrench inequality.
He recalled the 1965 expansion raised non-permanent seats from six to ten, boosting the P5’s power.
Parvathaneni noted the veto was used 331 times on 200 resolutions while two members have abstained for over 35 years.

History

Historical Context

In 1965 the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 377, expanding the Security Council’s non-permanent membership from six to ten, cementing the P5’s dominance. The United States, United Kingdom, France, Soviet Union and Republic of China each retained veto power, exercising it 331 times across 200 resolutions by 2023. India’s 2024 appeal, voiced by UN ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, echoes those earlier structural imbalances, demanding an expanded permanent membership without veto privileges. If the Council reforms, the precedent set in 1965 suggests entrenched power may persist, shaping future diplomatic negotiations and global security governance.

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Story summary

Harish Parvathaneni, India’s UN Permanent Representative, urged Security Council reform at the General Assembly on Monday.
India says extending veto rights to all members and a non-veto permanent seat would entrench inequality.
He recalled the 1965 expansion raised non-permanent seats from six to ten, boosting the P5’s power.
Parvathaneni noted the veto was used 331 times on 200 resolutions while two members have abstained for over 35 years.

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