Following Elon Musk’s comments endorsing India’s bid for permanent seat at United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Vedant Patel (the Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the US State Department) said on Wednesday, April 17 during a press briefing that the US has furnished its support for reforms within United Nations institutions, including UNSC (the United Nations Security Council).

Earlier this year, Elon Musk shared his opinion regarding India’s lack of a permanent seat at the UNSC, terming it ‘absurd’. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the SpaceX CEO said, “At some point, there needs to be a revision of the UN bodies. Problem is that those with excess power don’t want to give it up.”

In the post, Musk further stated, “India not having a permanent seat on the Security Council, despite being the most populous country on Earth, is absurd. Africa collectively should also have a permanent seat imo.” Over the Tesla chief’s remarks, Vedant Patel said, “The President has spoken about this before in his remarks to the UN General Assembly, and the Secretary has alluded to this as well.”

Mr. Patel also conveyed US support for reforms to the UN institution on behalf of the Security Council to make it more reflective of the 21st-century world. Vedant added, “I don’t have any specifics to offer on what those steps are, but certainly, we recognise that there is a need for reform, but I will leave it at that for now.”

Composition of United Nations Security Council

The UNSC has 15 member states, including ten non-permanent members elected for a two-year termand five permanent members with veto power. India’s pursuit for a permanent seat on the Security Council gained momentum lately, with the backing of the international community, as the country seeks to represent the interests of the developing world.

China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States are the five permanent members of the UNSC. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in its election manifesto (Sankalp Patra) for 2024 Lok Sabha elections, pledged to seek permanent membership for the nation in the United Nations Security Council. BJP stated, “We are committed to seeking permanent membership in the UN Security Council to elevate Bharat’s position in global decision-making.”

In January, EAM (External Affairs Minister) S Jaishankar talked about the increasing backing India is garnering in its pursuit for a permanent seat at the UNSC. He stated: “With each passing year, the feeling in the world is that India should be there, and I can feel that support…The world does not give things easily and generously; sometimes you have to take them.”