BRICS giants decry UN reform ‘paralysis’

India, Brazil, and South Africa have stressed that making global institutions more representative of today’s world is a top priority

The foreign ministers of Brazil, India, and South Africa have reiterated their commitment to expanding the UN Security Council (UNSC) to enhance the influence of developing countries in global governance and economic decision making. 

Mauro Vieira, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and Ronald Lamola – the foreign ministers of Brazil, India, and South Africa, respectively – met on the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York on Thursday. 

In a statement after the meeting, the ministers expressed “frustration with the paralysis” regarding UNSC reform negotiations, which have “failed” to reflect the majority support among UN member states for expanding Security Council membership.

In the statement, the ministers went on to say they look forward to working together on reforming the Security Council, the WTO, and the international financial architecture, among other things, to urgently make progress toward a just, democratic, and equitable multilateral system.

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The joint statement released by the three countries also noted their concern over the escalation of geopolitical tensions, and their call to value “dialogue and diplomacy as a primary instrument for peaceful resolution.” They stressed “the urgency of re-engaging in the pursuit of peace, in contrast to divisive narratives that only serve to reinforce the current scenario of fragmentation and geopolitical polarization.”

The three countries are part of the tripartite IBSA Dialogue, formed in 2003 to unite the largest democracies in the developing world. Brazil, India, and South Africa are among several countries – along with Germany and Japan – that have been bidding for a permanent seat in the UNSC. 

The Security Council currently comprises 15 member states, including five permanent members with veto power and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms. The five permanent members of the UNSC are Russia, the US, UK, China, and France.

While four permanent members have been vocal about the need to reform the body and have backed bids for a permanent seat by India and Brazil, as well as African representation, China’s stance on Security Council reform is largely limited to broad statements focused on enhancing the representation of developing nations.

Brazil, India, and South Africa are part of the BRICS group and also serve as a troika in the G20. India held the G20 presidency in 2023, Brazil holds it this year, and South Africa will take over in 2025.