NEWSFLASH: France Backs Security Council Reform Including India’s Bid for Permanent Seat

In what can be a big endorsement for India’s longstanding campaign for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, France has formally reiterated its support for expanding the Council’s membership to better reflect contemporary geopolitical realities. 

Image Source: UNSCReports on X

The statement was delivered by Hugo Wavrin, Deputy Legal Adviser at France’s Permanent Mission to the UN, during the General Assembly debate on Security Council reform held in New York on May 29, 2025.

France welcomed the reform proposals put forward by CARICOM (Caribbean Community), emphasizing the need for a more representative and effective Council. In particular, France backed the expansion of both permanent and non-permanent categories, proposing a restructured Council of around 25 members.

Crucially, France explicitly reaffirmed its support for the candidatures of the G4 nations — India, Germany, Japan, and Brazil — for permanent seats, along with two permanent seats for African countries. 

Describing the absence of African representation among permanent members as “unacceptable,” France said it was time to rectify this imbalance, aligning with its commitment under the “Pact for the Future.”

From an Indian perspective, the statement bolsters New Delhi’s diplomatic position, as it continues to make the case for a Security Council that mirrors today’s power structures rather than the post-World War II order. France’s position also affirms the legitimacy of granting veto powers to new permanent members, placing India on equal footing with the existing P5.

France also endorsed CARICOM’s ethical stance on the non-use of the veto in situations involving mass atrocities, such as genocide and war crimes. Reiterating its own record, France noted that it has voluntarily refrained from using the veto since 1989 and is actively promoting a global initiative, co-led with Mexico, to regulate the use of the veto in cases of mass atrocities—a measure now supported by over 100 countries.

For India, France’s statement reinforces growing international support for a more inclusive and responsive global governance architecture. With France—a permanent member—publicly championing India’s inclusion, the path toward a reformed and expanded Security Council gains renewed momentum.