India launches campaign for non-permanent UN Security Council seat

A contest with Tajikistan awaits for the Asia-Pacific Group's sole seat next June

India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar

India has launched its campaign for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2028-29 term, the Press Trust of India reports.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar announced the development at a special event in the UN headquarters attended by envoys, diplomats and officials on Monday.

“As we contemplate the global order, India’s focus will be on working for a secure, peaceful and equitable world,” Jaishankar said at the event.

Elections for the two-year term will be conducted in June next year, when India and Tajikistan will vie for the only seat under the Asia-Pacific Group category.

The voting comes amid significant geopolitical shifts as the world continues to grapple with challenges triggered by the Ukraine and Gaza wars, and the US-Israel conflict against Iran.

The South Asian nation was a non-permanent member at the UN body during the 2021-22 period.

New Delhi, which termed its campaign “Shanti: India for the United Nations Security Council 2028-29. Norms, Trust, Integrity”, has long claimed its “rightful competence” as a permanent seat at the horseshoe table, calling for an expansion in both the permanent and non-permanent categories of UNSC membership.