India Launches Campaign for 2028-29 UN Security Council Seat
India will formally launch its campaign for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2028-29 term on July 13. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is scheduled to make the announcement in New York, following his visits to Gulf nations including Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman.
The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed the launch in a press note, highlighting India's aspiration to represent the Global South at the UN. The campaign comes amid significant global challenges, including disruptions in energy and fertilizer trade due to ongoing conflicts in West Asia.
India's bid faces competition from Tajikistan, which is also contesting the seat reserved for the Asia-Pacific region. Tajikistan has secured support from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), comprising 57 member states, while India has garnered endorsements from countries such as Fiji, the United States, Austria, and Sri Lanka. Both nations are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which will hold its next summit in Kyrgyzstan.
Mr. Jaishankar's recent diplomatic engagements, including visits to Qatar and Caribbean nations, reflect India's intensified efforts to build consensus. The campaign follows the recent election of Kyrgyzstan to the UNSC for the 2027-28 term, where it received 142 votes against the Philippines' 49.
India continues to advocate for UNSC reform and the interests of developing nations, although the India-Africa Forum Summit, originally scheduled for May, was postponed due to Ebola outbreaks in several African countries.
