At the Kautilya Economic Conclave on Oct. 5, 2026, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar blasted the United Nations for being gridlocked, demanding urgent reform of the Security Council. His remarks hit home amid a backdrop of stalled crises.
Jaishankar highlighted that while the UN’s membership has ballooned from 51 to 193, the Security Council has stubbornly retained only 15 seats—a disparity that renders it ineffective in addressing contemporary conflicts.
He warned that a handful of states—though unnamed—are leveraging Africa’s platform to block reforms, claiming the status quo is essential. Yet Africa has clarified its own position, outlining the reforms it seeks, and is now the single bloc pushing for change.
India, he said, must steer the conversation, positioning the UN as a mechanism for collective action rather than a stagnant institution.
He urged that a summit of all member states convene by December to draft a revised charter, cautioning that delayed reform will cement the UN’s irrelevance.