New Delhi:

The United Nations Security Council needs urgent reforms and India should get its rightful place as a permanent member of the top UN body, says former Singapore diplomat professor Kishore Mahbubani.

In an exclusive interview to NDTV’s Sonia Singh, Mr Mahbubani talked about the much-needed reforms in the United Nations, saying that he believes the United Kingdom should give up its permanent seat at the UN Security Council (UNSC) for India.

“There is absolutely no question that India is the third-most powerful country in the world today after the United States and China. And that Great Britain is no longer ‘great’,” he said.

Explaining why the UK should relinquish its seat, Mr Mahbubani mentioned that the UK has not used its veto power for decades, fearing backlash. “So, the logical thing for the UK to do is give up its seat to India,” he said.

Speaking on the UN reforms, he said the founders of the UN ensured that all great powers of the time had vested interests in the organisation in order to make it work.

“The lesson that (UN’s founders) learned from the collapse of the League of Nations early in the 20th century is that if a great power leaves, the organisation collapses,” the former diplomat said.

“But they also believed that you must have the great powers of today, not the great powers of yesterday. Unfortunately, they didn’t create a mechanism for changing the seats,” he said.

“Another reason for the UK to give up its seat is that it will free them up to act independently,” he said.

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Ukraine, weeks after a state visit to Russia has earned praise from a former Singaporean diplomat who says India’s role in global diplomacy has reached a crucial juncture, and the role of the West has greatly diminished.

In an exclusive interview to NDTV’s Sonia Singh, former Singaporean diplomat Professor Kishore Mahbubani said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to both Russia and Ukraine signifies how India has “arrived as a major geopolitical actor”.

“How many leaders in the world can comfortably visit both Russia and Ukraine and be received warmly by both countries. Very few countries in the world. And the fact that Prime Minister Modi can do that is a sign of how India has arrived as a major geopolitical actor,” Mr Mahbubani said.

Prime Minister Modi visited Russia and met President Vladimir Putin in July to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries. During his discussions with President Putin, PM Modi reiterated India’s stand and emphasised on “peaceful resolution of the conflict around Ukraine through dialogue and diplomacy including engagement between both parties”.

Showcasing India’s ability to manage good relations with most nations, Prime Minister Modi visited Ukraine within weeks of his Russia visit, making it the first-ever visit by an Indian PM to Ukraine since the European country’s formation after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Hailing the trip as “historic”, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky signed four documents with India on a wide range of issues.

“We (India) are not neutral. From the very beginning, we have taken a side. And we have chosen the side of peace. We have come from the land of Buddha where there is no place for war,” PM Modi had said in his opening remarks during the talks.

Professor Mahbubani also spoke about how India could play a bigger role in the world if given a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

“The greatest hope for India to play a role globally, for example, giving it a permanent membership in the UN Security Council will enable India to do much more in terms of creating a better world,” he said.

India has been vying for a permanent seat at UNSC, with countries like Russia, France, the US, and the UK all endorsing India’s bid, China being the only hindrance.

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Ukraine, weeks after a state visit to Russia has earned praise from a former Singaporean diplomat who says India’s role in global diplomacy has reached a crucial juncture, and the role of the West has greatly diminished.

In an exclusive interview to NDTV’s Sonia Singh, former Singaporean diplomat Professor Kishore Mahbubani said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to both Russia and Ukraine signifies how India has “arrived as a major geopolitical actor”.

“How many leaders in the world can comfortably visit both Russia and Ukraine and be received warmly by both countries. Very few countries in the world. And the fact that Prime Minister Modi can do that is a sign of how India has arrived as a major geopolitical actor,” Mr Mahbubani said.

Prime Minister Modi visited Russia and met President Vladimir Putin in July to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries. During his discussions with President Putin, PM Modi reiterated India’s stand and emphasised on “peaceful resolution of the conflict around Ukraine through dialogue and diplomacy including engagement between both parties”.

Showcasing India’s ability to manage good relations with most nations, Prime Minister Modi visited Ukraine within weeks of his Russia visit, making it the first-ever visit by an Indian PM to Ukraine since the European country’s formation after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Hailing the trip as “historic”, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky signed four documents with India on a wide range of issues.

“We (India) are not neutral. From the very beginning, we have taken a side. And we have chosen the side of peace. We have come from the land of Buddha where there is no place for war,” PM Modi had said in his opening remarks during the talks.

Professor Mahbubani also spoke about how India could play a bigger role in the world if given a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

“The greatest hope for India to play a role globally, for example, giving it a permanent membership in the UN Security Council will enable India to do much more in terms of creating a better world,” he said.

India has been vying for a permanent seat at UNSC, with countries like Russia, France, the US, and the UK all endorsing India’s bid, China being the only hindrance.