V4 Countries Support India’s Bid for Permanent UNSC Seat

V4 Countries Support India’s Permanent UNSC Membership Bid

Why in News?

• The four members of the Visegrád Group (V4) have collectively supported India’s bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council (UNSC). 
• The support was expressed at the first V4-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York. 
• The V4 comprises Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Czechia. 

V4-India Cooperation

• India and the V4 countries agreed to institutionalise the new format through annual foreign ministers’ meetings and an annual business forum. 
• Cooperation will focus on: 
  • Technology and innovation 
  • Defence and security 
  • Space and connectivity 
  • Education and research 
  • Trade and investment 
  • People-to-people exchanges 
• The meeting also discussed the Ukraine conflict and developments in the Gulf. 

Visegrád Group

• The Visegrád Group (V4) was established in 1991 by Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia. 
• After the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993, Czechia and Slovakia became separate members, forming the present V4. 
• It is a regional cooperation platform covering political, economic, security, cultural and energy issues. 
• Its presidency rotates annually, and the group generally works through consensus. 

UNSC and India’s Demand

• The UNSC has 15 members: 
  • 5 permanent members: China, France, Russia, UK and USA. 
  • 10 non-permanent members, elected by the UN General Assembly for two-year terms. 
• The five permanent members have veto power. 
• India, along with Brazil, Germany and Japan, forms the G4, which supports expansion of permanent and non-permanent membership. 
• The V4 endorsement adds collective European support to India’s campaign, but does not by itself change the UN reform process. Reform requires broad agreement among UN members and amendment of the UN Charter.

Practice Question

Q. With reference to the Visegrád Group and India’s demand for permanent membership of the UN Security Council, consider the following statements:

1. The Visegrád Group was established in 1991 by Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia, and its present four-member composition emerged after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993. 
2. The Visegrád Group operates as a regional cooperation platform whose presidency rotates annually and whose decisions are generally based on consensus. 
3. All four Visegrád countries are permanent members of the UN Security Council and therefore possess veto power. 
4. India, Brazil, Germany and Japan constitute the G4, which supports the expansion of both permanent and non-permanent membership of the UNSC. 
5. Support from the V4 countries by itself is sufficient to amend the UN Charter and establish India as a permanent UNSC member. 

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A. 1, 2 and 4 only
B. 1, 3 and 5 only
C. 2, 3, 4 and 5 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4 only

Answer: A. 1, 2 and 4 only

Explanation:

• The Visegrád Group was established in 1991 by Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia; after Czechoslovakia dissolved in 1993, Czechia and Slovakia became separate members. Hence, Statement 1 is Correct. 
• The V4 is a regional cooperation platform with an annually rotating presidency and generally takes decisions through consensus. Hence, Statement 2 is Correct. 
• The V4 countries are not permanent members of the UNSC and therefore do not possess veto power. Hence, Statement 3 is Incorrect. 
• India, Brazil, Germany and Japan constitute the G4, which supports expansion of both permanent and non-permanent UNSC membership. Hence, Statement 4 is Correct. 
• V4 support does not by itself amend the UN Charter or make India a permanent member. UNSC reform requires broad agreement among UN members and amendment of the UN Charter. Hence, Statement 5 is Incorrect.