Calls to transfer the UN seat to India are gaining traction after former Singaporean diplomat Kishore Mahbubani urged the United Kingdom to step aside for a rising power. Mahbubani argues that Britain’s permanent seat on the UN Security Council no longer reflects global realities — and that India, a democratic giant and major global player, deserves the spot instead.
Mahbubani, who served as Singapore’s ambassador to the UN for over a decade, noted that the veto power was intended for the “great powers of the day,” not the past. “The British should be gracious about it,” he said, suggesting that after ruling India for 200 years, the UK should repay that legacy by giving its UN seat to India.
Mahbubani argues that the veto power was meant for the great powers of the present, not the past, and that Britain’s colonial debt to India should be repaid through this symbolic and practical gesture.
A Council Stuck in the Past
The UN Security Council (UNSC) was formed in the aftermath of World War II, reflecting the geopolitical power balance of that era. The five permanent members — the United States, Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom — were then considered the global powerhouses responsible for maintaining international peace and security.
But the world of 2025 looks very different. The United Kingdom’s global footprint has diminished, while emerging economies like India have become central to global growth, peacekeeping, and development initiatives.
With the world’s fifth-largest economy, 1.4 billion citizens, and a pivotal role in global diplomacy, India’s absence as a permanent UNSC member looks increasingly outdated.
Why the UN Seat Belongs to India
The case for transferring a UN seat to India isn’t just about moral or historical justice — it’s about realism. India is:
- A democratic powerhouse representing one-sixth of humanity.
- A major contributor to UN peacekeeping missions.
- An economic and technological leader, influencing global innovation and trade.
- A stabilizing force in Asia, balancing regional tensions with diplomacy.
If the UN aims to remain credible in the 21st century, it cannot continue to exclude such a globally significant nation from its most powerful decision-making body.
The UK’s Diminishing Role
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom’s claim to a permanent UNSC seat is increasingly seen as an artifact of history.
Post-Brexit, the UK’s influence within Europe has declined, and its global leverage largely depends on alliances with the US and Commonwealth partners.
Mahbubani’s suggestion isn’t about humiliation but about modernizing the UN to reflect the real centers of power. A voluntary handover of the UK’s seat to India would be seen as a gesture of leadership and humility — one that strengthens rather than weakens Britain’s moral standing on the world stage.
The Moral and Strategic Imperative
For decades, India has championed UN reform, leading the G4 alliance (with Japan, Germany, and Brazil) to push for permanent representation. Yet, despite broad support, reform remains frozen — blocked by those who benefit from the status quo.
By advocating the transfer of the UN seat to India, Mahbubani highlights both the moral inconsistency and strategic short-sightedness of maintaining outdated hierarchies.
An empowered India within the UNSC could bring balance to a multipolar world — fostering cooperation between the Global North and South, and amplifying the voice of developing nations.
A Vision for a Rebalanced World Order
Reforming the UN is no easy task, but Mahbubani’s proposal forces policymakers and citizens alike to ask a hard question:
Can the UN remain relevant if its power structure no longer reflects global reality?
As new centers of power rise in Asia and Africa, the time for symbolic and structural reform is now.
Handing over a UN seat to India would not only acknowledge its growing influence but also revitalize faith in global governance — something the UN desperately needs today.
Conclusion
Kishore Mahbubani’s call to transfer the UN seat to India isn’t a jab at Britain — it’s a wake-up call to the world.
A permanent Indian seat on the Security Council would inject legitimacy, diversity, and democratic representation into an aging institution.
If the UK truly believes in fairness, global justice, and post-colonial reconciliation, then handing over its UN seat to India might be the boldest and most honorable act it could make in this century.
Sources: Financial Times, BBC, ORF
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