In push for UNSC reforms, PM Modi to host G4 leaders in New York

New York: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is due to host leaders of the G4 nations for a special summit here ahead of leaving for the Silicon Valley leg of his US visit.

As per officials, PM Modi will attend the G4 Summit with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Japanese PM Shinzo Abe and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff.

All four G4 nations back each others' bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

At present, there are five permanent members on the UNSC, namely China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Significantly, the heads of the G4 nations are meeting for the first time in 10 years. In 2013 and 2014, G4 Foreign Ministers had met on the sidelines of the UNGA and called for urgent reforms of the UNSC.

While addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, PM Modi made a strong pitch for ushering in reforms in the Security Council “to maintain its credibility and legitimacy”.

"We must reform the United Nations including its Security Council so that it carries greater credibility and legitimacy and will be more representative and effective in achieving our goals," Modi said.

The G4 meeting assumes significance as the UN General Assembly recently adopted a negotiating document for the much-awaited UNSC reforms. And at the Summit, the four leaders are expected to discuss a collaborative strategy to negotiate the UNSC reforms.

India has already won backing for a permanent seat on the Security Council, including from the US which said that it is committed to India's inclusion in the world body.