Biden's UN pick discusses India's seat in Permanent Security Council

Linda Thomas Greenfield on India's seat

On Wednesday, US President Joe Biden's appointee as ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas Greenfield did not express explicit support of the new administration for India being a permanent member in the UN Security Council. India is striving to gain a spot in the permanent Security Council for a long time. The previous US administrations led by George W Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump openly rooted that the United States supports India's inclusion as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Meanwhile, Thomas Greenfield's actions differ from the monotony established over the years. Greenfield, who spent more than 35 years in foreign service before being appointed to the position, in her confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee asserted to lawmakers that this is a matter of ongoing discussion. She encountered the question by Senator Jeff Merkley from Oregon "What's your take on giving permanent membership to Japan, Germany and India to the UN Security Council?". Biden tagged it as a Cabinet Ranking position. Responding to this she said, "In the ongoing plot of discussions about their membership in the Security Council, a long string of arguments has been posed in the Committee."

The Coffee Club comprising Italy, Pakistan, Mexico and Egypt strongly opposed permanent membership bid of India, Japan, Germany and Brazil. While President Biden during his election campaign policy document last year had re-announced the country's promise to support India in gaining this membership to the UN Security Council. "Acknowledging India's position on the global platform, the Obama Biden administration formally affirmed US's support for India's membership in expansion and reform of the UN Security Council," Biden's campaign said about Indian-Americans last August.

Greenfield in another question favoured the reforms in Council. India is a non permanent member in council for a two year term that started in January. "Board holds the view that reforms are necessary in the council. The implementation and execution of reforms still needs attention and planning. About changing the number of permanent members, we moved from 11 to 15 some years ago and discussions are ongoing in this regard," she said in reply to Senator Merkley.