Jaishankar: UN 'Gridlocked' and Irrelevant, Urges Security Council Reform

Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated that the United Nations is "gridlocked" and has become largely irrelevant in decision-making on major global issues, calling for urgent reform of the body and its Security Council. Speaking at the Kautilya Economic Conclave, Jaishankar cited conflicts in the Gulf, Ukraine, Africa, and the COVID-19 pandemic as examples where the UN was ineffective. He argued the Security Council no longer represents global interests, noting the UN has grown from 51 to nearly four times that many members while retaining an outdated structure. Jaishankar said some unnamed players are blocking reform by "using the name of Africa," despite Africa having a clear position in negotiations. He emphasized the need to "fix the UN, not to work around the UN," reiterating his previous stance that the world needs a "better UN," not its abolition.