Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently spoke in a podcast interview with American scientist Lex Fridman. During the interview, he criticised the United Nations (UN) and other international organisations, saying they have become “almost irrelevant” due to the lack of reforms. He pointed to ongoing global conflicts like the Middle East wars and tensions between China and the US to highlight this.
UN is ‘almost irrelevant,’ says PM Modi
PM Modi expressed his disappointment with international organisations, saying they are no longer able to fulfil their roles. He said, “The international organisations that were created have become almost irrelevant; there is no reform in them. Institutions like the UN cannot play their role. People in the world who aren’t concerned about laws and rules are doing everything; no one is able to stop them.”
The Prime Minister believes that without changes, these global institutions will continue to fail in preventing conflicts and promoting peace. He suggested that the current structure of the UN does not reflect the realities of today’s world.
PM Modi also talked about how the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the weaknesses of all countries, no matter how powerful or advanced they were. He said, “Covid-19 has exposed the limitations of all of us. No matter how much we consider ourselves a great nation, very progressive, very scientifically advanced, or whatever it may be, everyone in their own way, in the times of COVID-19, we all came down to earth, every country in the world. And then it seemed that the world would learn something from it, and we would move towards a new world order. But unfortunately, the situation was such that instead of moving towards peace, the world disintegrated, a period of uncertainty came, and the war put it in more trouble.”
PM Modi emphasised that instead of bringing nations closer, the world became more divided after the pandemic. He expressed sadness that global conflicts only increased, making the situation worse.
Call for cooperation, not conflict
The Prime Minister urged world leaders to shift their focus from conflicts to cooperation. He promoted a development-driven approach, saying that countries must work together to build a better future. He pointed out that in today’s interconnected world, no country can succeed alone.
“As I said earlier, the world is interdependent, interconnected… Everyone needs everyone; no one can do anything alone. And I see that in all the different forums I have to go to, everyone is worried about conflict. We hope to get relief from it very soon,” PM Modi added.
India has long argued that it deserves a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The council was founded in 1945 and currently has five permanent members — Russia, the UK, China, France, and the US — who hold veto power. There are also 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.
India believes the UNSC’s structure is outdated and doesn’t represent modern global politics. The country last held a non-permanent seat in 2021-22. The UK, France, and the US have shown support for India’s bid to become a permanent member.
PM Modi has repeatedly called for reform at the UN, urging global action that matches global ambition. He made this clear during his speech at the UN’s ‘Summit of the Future’ last year, where he called for major changes to ensure the UN remains relevant in today’s world.
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