External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar shared a video on X in the early hours of July 14, formally inaugurating India’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2028–29 term. The elections for this term are scheduled to be held in the UN General Assembly on June 2027.
EAM S. Jaishankar unveiled India’s official campaign, titled 'Shanti: India for the United Nations Security Council 2028-29. Norms, Trust, Integrity,' for its upcoming two-year term, during a special event at the UN headquarters in New York that was attended by UN envoys, diplomats, and officials.
India aims to secure one of these non-permanent seats for the 2028–29 term, competing directly with Tajikistan for the single seat designated for the Asia-Pacific Group.
In addition to the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China), the UN General Assembly elects 10 non-permanent members to the Council for a two-year term.
These non-permanent seats are allocated on a regional basis:
5 for African and Asian States,
1 for Eastern European States,
2 for Latin American and Caribbean States,
2 for Western European and Other States
Elections of Non-Permanent Members are held annually by secret ballot and demand a two-thirds majority, even when there is only a single candidate.
In a post on X, S. Jaishankar shared the post of meeting with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres as India seeks votes of member states. Earlier EAM has undertaken an official visit to Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman from July 5-10 and arrived in New York.
India has already secured initial backing from multiple countries, including the United States, Austria, Sri Lanka, and Fiji.
Media reports indicate that Tajikistan enjoys backing from the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), intensifying the level of competition.
In the coming months, India is likely to enhance its diplomatic engagement with nations in Africa, the Caribbean, and Central Asia.
India's Shanti campaign seeks to respond to the concerns of developing countries during a period of global instability and to position itself as the voice of the Global South.
The ongoing geopolitical upheaval, exacerbated by the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the crisis in West Asia, has imposed a disproportionate economic burden on developing nations.
In a video shared by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s famous remarks find mentions in an address to the joint session of the U.S Congress, where he reiterates that 'this is not an era of war, and that dialogue and diplomacy are the only viable solutions,' reaffirming India’s commitment to global peace.
India’s bid for the 2028–29 United Nations Security Council non-permanent seat allows India to strengthen its claim as a credible voice of the Global South and a responsible stakeholder in international peace and security.
