UNSC: Jaishankar to chair meet on multilateralism, counter-terrorism

New Delhi: India, as Chair of the UNSC for December 2022, S Jaishankar, Minister for External Affairs, will chair two important sessions in New York on 14 and 15 December 2022.

On December 14, an open debate on how to inject new life into multilateralism and ensure that they have adequate tools to address future challenges.

On December 15, the Minister will chair a briefing on a global counter-terrorism approach, enabling the Council to take stock and build on a special meeting of its Counter-Terrorism Committee, which took place in Mumbai and Delhi in October.

Indian ambassador Ruchira Kamboj at the UN in a press conference said that in addition, two side events are planned:

On December 14, a bust of Mahatma Gandhi, to be placed on the North Lawn of UN Headquarters, will be unveiled in the presence of the Secretary-General, the Minister for External Affairs and other Council members.

The second side event will be the launch of the Group of Friends on Accountability for Crimes Against United Nations Peacekeepers, which will keep a spotlight on the safety and security of peacekeepers, she said.

Amb Kamboj, noting that December is the last month in India’s eighth turn as a non-permanent Council member, said that her country had made every effort over the last two years to bridge the different voices within the 15‑member organ to ensure that it speaks with one voice as far as possible on a variety of issues. It will bring that same spirit to its presidency, she added.

At the G20 meeting in India

Asked about how India, as president of both the Council and the G20, will use its role towards finding solutions to geopolitical challenges, she said that concerning the G20 presidency, the Summit will be held in New Delhi on 9 and 10 September 2023.

“As the Prime Minister of India has mentioned, its presidency will be ambitious, decisive and all-inclusive and focus on keeping unity. India hopes to bring its successes, experiences and people-centric solutions to the table.”

Amb further added India took over the presidency of the Group of Twenty (G20) on December 1 and several meetings are shaping up already across India, India plans to hold around 200 meetings to bring solutions to the global issues that need much attention.

On becoming a Permanent Council Member

On India’s prospects for becoming a permanent Council member, Amb Kamboj, in her Press Conference as a chair of the UNSC, highlighted that India has always been a solution provider.

“Its provision of medicine and equipment during the COVID‑19 pandemic, as well as humanitarian assistance to countries in need, points to India’s readiness to take its place at the “global top table” and further contribute to the global agenda.

She added that the case for “Council reform is undeniable” and needs to be taken as a priority with current global challenges.  India and some other countries have been demanding reforms at the UNSC and asking for its position on the High Table.