Jeffrey Sachs, a significant voice in global economics and policy, has issued a resounding call for India to be granted a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), arguing that its inclusion is pivotal to the birth of a new, multipolar world order.
In his article ‘Giving birth to the new international order’, Sachs contends that the current global system, rooted in a U.S.-led hegemony, is fading, and India’s rise—marked by its economic power, demographic weight, and diplomatic triumphs—makes it an indispensable player in reshaping international governance and without India being made a part of UNSC, global affairs will not stabilise.
Sachs highlights India’s unmatched credentials: it is the world’s most populous nation, having surpassed China in 2024 with over 1.4 billion people, and its economy, valued at $17 trillion in purchasing power parity terms, stands as the third largest globally, trailing only China’s $40 trillion and the U.S.’s $30 trillion. Citing official numbers, Sachs has said that India is growing at a brisk rate of 6% annually, and is poised to overtake the U.S. by mid-century.
Its nuclear arsenal, cutting-edge digital innovations, and ambitious space program further cement its status as a great power, capable of contributing to global stability and progress, Sach contends.
It is pertinent to mention India has got the support of all major countries, including Russia and the US for a place in the UNSC. Other prominent names in this list are the United Kingdom, France,Chile, Bhutan, Portugal,United Arab Emirates, Brazil, Germany, Japan and Australia.
Sachs places India’s ascent within a sweeping historical context, describing the world as being in an “interregnum”—a transitional phase where the old Western-dominated order is dying, and a new multipolar system struggles to emerge.
A shining example of India’s readiness for this role, Sachs writes, was its masterful leadership of the 2023 G20 summit in New Delhi.
“ No other country mentioned as a candidate for a permanent UN Security Council member comes close to India’s credentials for a seat. The same can be said about India’s diplomatic heft. India’s skillful diplomacy was displayed by India’s superb leadership of the G20 in 2023. India deftly managed a hugely successful G20 despite the bitter divide in 2024 between Russia and the NATO countries. Not only did India achieve a G20 consensus; it made history by welcoming the African Union to a new permanent membership in the G20,” he says.
According to him, giving India a place in the Security Council would strengthen the UNSC’s capacity to maintain global peace and justice.
According to Sachs, even China, traditionally hesitant to support India’s UNSC bid to preserve its unique Asian seat, might now see value in backing it.
He argues that China, wary of U.S. efforts to curb its economic and technological rise through tariffs and sanctions, could view India’s inclusion as a way to strengthen a multipolar world order that challenges Western dominance. By supporting India, China would elevate Asia’s collective influence on the global stage, where it currently holds just one of five permanent seats despite its population and economic weight. Sachs believes this move would resonate with Russia, which shares an interest in countering U.S. hegemony, and could pressure the U.S., Britain, and France—already vocal supporters of India—to formalize their backing.
This alignment, Sachs suggests, could break the deadlock that has stalled UNSC reform for decades, paving the way for a council that better reflects today’s world.
Today, Asia accounts for roughly 50% of the global economy, per IMF estimates, and nearly 60% of the world’s population. Yet, the UNSC’s five permanent members—Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States—reflect a 1945 power structure that excludes Africa and Latin America and grants Asia only one seat, he says.
Sachs argues that India’s permanent membership is crucial to align geopolitical influence with this economic and demographic reality.
Sachs has an impressive resume and hence his commentary is not going to be missed by world leaders. As a University Professor at Columbia University, former director of The Earth Institute from 2002 to 2016, and current President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, Sachs has shaped global policy for decades. He has advised three UN Secretaries-General, providing counsel on economic crises, poverty reduction, and sustainable development, and serves as an SDG Advocate under António Guterres, pushing for the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
His books, including one which is co-authored with Ban Ki-moon former head of UN, are seminal works that guide policymakers worldwide. Sachs’ voice carries weight in the halls of the UN, G20, and national capitals, making his endorsement of India a powerful catalyst for diplomatic discussions.