In a stark warning at the United Nations, the G4 nations—India, Brazil, Germany, and Japan—have demanded swift reforms to the Security Council, cautioning that delays are exacerbating human misery amid escalating global conflicts. Speaking during the Inter-Governmental Negotiations (IGN) on Wednesday, India’s Permanent Representative P. Harish emphasized that every moment counts as innocent lives are lost daily in ongoing wars.
The G4 group unveiled a comprehensive model to restructure the UN’s premier decision-making body, aiming to reflect today’s geopolitical realities. Harish lambasted status-quo defenders for obstructing progress, arguing their resistance contributes to the Council’s failures in addressing crises like those in Ukraine and the Middle East.
A small bloc of countries, self-styled as Uniting for Consensus (UfC), has been employing procedural tactics to block text-based negotiations. Italy’s deputy permanent representative Gianluca Greco reiterated the need for consensus on all issues before any reform text emerges, effectively stalling expansion of permanent seats.
Harish countered firmly: the G4 insists on text-based talks with clear milestones and timelines. Their consolidated model incorporates inputs from all UN members, proposing to expand the Council from 15 to 25 or 26 seats, including six new permanent ones—two for Africa, two for Asia-Pacific, one for Latin America, and one for Western Europe.
Under this blueprint, India and Japan would secure Asia-Pacific seats, Brazil the Latin American slot, and Germany the Western European one. New non-permanent seats would prioritize underrepresented regions, including small island developing states, while rejecting religion-based allocations as contrary to UN principles.
Harish highlighted the underrepresentation of Asia-Pacific, home to over half the world’s population and 54 UN members, yet holding only five Council seats. He also targeted UfC’s opposition to African permanent seats, noting broad global support for rectifying historical injustices. Japan’s representative Kazuyuki Yamazaki echoed the call, stressing the urgency for balanced representation.
As conflicts rage and the UN’s credibility wanes, the G4’s bold proposal offers a path forward. Failure to act risks further erosion of the organization’s relevance, with humanity paying the price.