America’s Empty Promise to India on U.N. Security Membership

On the last day of his visit to India, President Barack Obama announced his support for India to become a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council. The announcement made everyone in India elated and excited. Indians consider it a long-awaited, notable victory in foreign affairs. However, to Americans, it is just an empty promise that costs them nothing.

This is a short-term strategy of Obama’s: With a simple verbal declaration, he hopes to get India’s support at the G-20 summit in South Korea and at the APEC conference in Japan. A few days ago, most countries criticized America’s massive production of its currency; however, India reversed its position and instead supported America’s decision just yesterday.

Yet, even with a cunning plan, America fails to resolve its fundamental difference with India over the membership issue. Unless India follows in the footsteps of Japan and agrees to become a vassal for America to carry out its foreign tactics, it will be a contradiction for America to support India in joining the Security Council. For a long time, America has remained silent on this issue because they know that once they announce their opposition, India will definitely not listen to them in the Security Council. America and India’s disagreements on greenhouse gas emissions, energy, food safety and trading are far greater than with other countries.

From reading all the commentary published in New Delhi over the past two days, it seems that they have taken Obama’s diplomatic terms seriously and think that his empty promise will really bring them one step closer to permanent member status on the Security Council. In fact, it is not up to America to grant entry to the Security Council; not only do all council members have to vote on it, but all members of the United Nations also participate in the decision. Even though America has verbally given its support, there are many unforeseen things that could reverse its promise.

Five years ago, America announced its support for Japan to join the Council, but Japan was not admitted. People in Japan were upset about the decision; however, not many people believed that America was sincerely upset.

In recent years, India has been working very hard on gaining permanent member status in the Security Council, as people all over the world believe that a reform of the United Nations is under way. However, it is also very clear to India that it is not the only country that has its eyes on membership. When a country joins the Security Council, not only does it change the power distribution within the United Nations, it also affects the political balance within the region. Therefore, a country who wants to join needs to be supported not only by the United States, but also by its neighbors.

It is a more troublesome task than getting America’s support, but a must for joining the Security Council. If India is really serious about gaining membership, it must follow these firm rules.

As reform of the United Nations has not yet materialized, it is hard to say which countries will get support from the leading countries. As the only hegemonic country in the world, America clings to power more than anyone else. Even though India is on its side at this moment, will America continue to trust India? Will it let down its guard toward India?

Even though it was just a diplomatic gesture, it was beneficial for India that Obama expressed his support. Yet, India should realize what is really going on, or else it may lose its focus and create tension in the area while forcefully pursuing its goal. India will not only worry its neighbors, but will also wear itself out.