G4 group express concern over slow pace of reform on Security Council

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The foreign ministers of Group of 4 (India, Japan, Brazil and Germany) met in New York on 22 September 2022 and expressed concern about the lack of meaningful progress in the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on United Nations Security Council (SC) reform. They met on the sidelines of the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly being held in New York, United States.

The meeting was attended by Indian External Affairs Minister S.Jaishanker, German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock, Brazilian foreign minister Carlos Alberto Franco Franca and Japanese foreign minister Yoshimasa Hayashi.

The G-4 was formed in 2005 to reform the UN Security Council and include four countries as the permanent member of the United Nation Security Council.

IMPORTANT FACTS -

China not in favour :

• According to the government of India, as told to Lok Sabha on 22 July 2022, only China is opposing India’s candidature for the UN Security Council membership while the other permanent members of the Security Council, Russia, France, United Kingdom and the United States are in favour of India.
• China is also opposed to the membership of Japan and Germany.
• It has a difficult relationship with India and Japan and consider them as its rival while it opposes Germany as it is not a developing country.

UN Security Council :

• The UN Security Council is the main UN body which is responsible for maintaining peace and security in the world.
• It consists of 15 members. 10 members are non-permanent and are elected for 2 years. 
• Five members are permanent members and they have veto power.  The five permanent members are China, Russia, France, the United Kingdom and the United States.