India ended its month-long rotating presidency of the powerful United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on August 31. During this tenure there have been substantial achievements in key global issues. Currently India is a non-permanent member (for a two-year term) of the 15-nation UNSC.
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti, mentioned on twitter, “As we wind down our Presidency of UN #SecurityCouncil, we thank all colleagues in #UNSC for their tremendous support to make our Presidency a success with many substantive outcomes.” Several members of United Nations showered words of gratitude to India for its leadership of the Council during the month of August.
Key achievements:
• India began its Presidency in UNSC with a high-level signature event on maritime security which was presided by PM Narendra Modi which was path-breaking as it was the first time that the Prime Minister of India chaired the United Nations Security Council.
• Comprehensive debate on the holistic concept of maritime security and a presidential statement on maritime security was something that was done for the first time.
• There were two signature events by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. First event was on Peacekeeping and Technology on August 18. The second one was a briefing on Islamic State on August 19.
• It was for the first time in UNSC that an open debate exclusively on how technology can aid in peacekeeping was held. It was also the first time that UN adopted a presidential statement on the topic of technology and peacekeeping.
• India exchanged an MoU with the United Nations in support of the ‘Partnership for Technology in Peacekeeping’ and for UN C4ISR Academy.
• It was the first time that India drafted a resolution on peacekeeping with a focus on ensuring accountability for crimes against peacekeepers. The resolution is sponsored by 80 member states, including all 15 members of the United Nations Security Council.
• India’s presidency of UNSC ended with adoption of first resolution by the Council on the situation in Afghanistan since the takeover of Kabul by the Taliban.
• UNSC was also able to successfully steer discussions on various peace and security issues related to Myanmar, Syria, Yemen, and the Middle East Peace Process under the month-long presidency of India.