EAM Jaishankar pushes for immediate UN reforms says-The post-1945 order is giving way to new realities

By R Anil Kumar

New York/Bengaluru, Sep 27, 2026. External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar called for ‘immediate’ UN reforms on Saturday, September 26, as he addressed the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. While speaking to the gathering in New York, the External Affairs Minister emphasised the importance of such reforms in a multipolar world.

“We are now well on our way towards a multipolar world. The post-1945 order is giving way to new realities. This process of adjustment, accommodation and acceptance will not be easy. Much of the turbulence that we witness today emanates from those very difficulties,” Jaishankar said.

“Yet, the march of an intrinsically diverse world, towards a more democratic future, cannot be halted. Peace in a pluralistic order requires civil conversations; it requires broad-based consultations; it requires transparent decision-making,” he added. The Indian foreign minister emphasised that large sections of humanity cannot be excluded from the process.

“The case for reformed multilateralism only gets stronger day after day,” he remarked. For the longest time, India and several other nations have been calling for UN reforms, demanding greater representation in the international body. New Delhi and its allies have also been calling for a permanent seat for India in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

Russia backs India’s bid for permanent seat

In his address to the UNGA, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov strongly backed India’s claim for a permanent seat in the UNSC. The Russian diplomat made it clear that Moscow is in “favour of broadening the representation of Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and that the country supports India’s and Brazil’s candidatures for a permanent seat.”

He emphasised that there should be more seat allocations to the Global South and voiced strong support for India and Brazil. Lavrov also noted that the UNSC reform cannot involve any additional seats being allocated to Western countries, especially to Germany and Japan, who are now on the path to militarism and revanchism.

“Our principled approach is the following: UN Security Council reform cannot involve any additional seats being allocated to Western countries, especially to Germany and Japan, who are now on the path to militarism and revanchism,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in his address to the UN General Assembly.

“We are in favour of broadening the representation of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. We support Brazil’s and India’s candidatures for a permanent seat, and at the same time, I wish to emphasise this: we must satisfy the interests of the African continent,” he said.

Lavrov added that through its foreign policy, “Russia is trying to fix the situation in the world, working together with its allies and strategic partners: the BRICS, the SCO, and the Eurasian Economic Union”.

“We are promoting an agenda which we can all get behind- a unifying agenda, concrete ideas and projects. Today, what’s coming to the fore is the topic of international information security. Clearly, the UN should play a central role in these discussions, not other narrow fora,” he said.

The pitch from Jaishankar and the endorsement from Lavrov came following the Brics Summit, held in New Delhi earlier this month. In the New Delhi Declaration, the 11-member Brics called for ‘immediate UN reforms’ as they pitched for India and Brazil to have a permanent seat in the UNSC.

India has also received strong backing from major global powers and Central European nations for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

Major Global Support

P5 Nations: Four of the five permanent members—the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Russia—have publicly endorsed India’s bid for a permanent seat.

Russia: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov strongly reiterated support for India and Brazil at the 81st UN General Assembly, while stating that no extra seats should go to Western nations like Germany and Japan.

France: Paris has consistently backed India’s inclusion and supports granting full veto powers to new permanent members.

Central European (V4 Group) Backing

Visegrad Group: During the first V4-India meeting on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York, four Central European nations—Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic—collectively endorsed India’s bid.

Global South Leadership: Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár highlighted India as an upcoming superpower in the Indo-Pacific and a vital voice for the Global South that must be seated at the top decision-making body.

Why India Pushes for Reform

Outdated Structure: India argues that the UNSC structure from 1945 does not reflect modern economic and geopolitical realities.

Representation: Greater participation is needed from Asia, Africa, and Latin America to make the council truly representative.