Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar asserted on Thursday that the West bears responsibility for many global issues, while also subtly criticizing China as the “biggest” opponent of UN Security Council reforms. Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue, Jaishankar acknowledged the role of the West in current global challenges but pointed out that the primary obstacle to UN Security Council reforms is not from Western nations. He noted China’s steadfast opposition to reforms, emphasizing the need for change in the council’s structure.
Jaishankar highlighted that when the UN was established, there were about 50 members, and now, with four times as many members, a common-sense approach dictates the necessity for a reevaluation of the existing framework. He emphasized the need for adapting to the current global landscape.
Responding to a question about countries prioritizing their interests, Jaishankar acknowledged that self-interest has been a traditional approach for nations. He cited the example of Kashmir, stating that in India’s early years of independence, they trusted multilateralism and brought the Kashmir aggression issue to the UN. However, other nations reframed it as an ‘accession’ issue for geopolitical reasons.
Jaishankar concluded by acknowledging the historical use of multilateralism and how countries have always played their interests on the international stage.
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