India assumes UNSC presidency with eye on counterterrorism, peacekeeping

India assumed
presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Sunday, August 1.
In course of its presidency, India will be organising signature events on maritime
security, peacekeeping and counter-terrorism.

On the eve of India
taking over the presidency, Ambassador TS Tirumurti, India’s permanent representative
to the UN, said in a video message, “It is a singular honour for us to be
president over the Security Council the same month we are celebration out 75th
Independence Day.”

The first working
day of India’s UNSC presidency will be Monday, August 2. Ambassador Tirumurti
will hold a hybrid press briefing in the UN headquarters on the Council’s
programme for work for the month.

The Indian
permanent representative to the UN will also member states of the United
Nations who are not members of the Council on its work for the month, according
to a schedule released by the UN.

Tirumurti has
said that maritime security is a high priority for India “and it is important
for the Security Council to take a holistic approach on the issue”.

Peacekeeping is a
topic “close to our hearts”, said Tirumurti recalling India’s contributions to
peacekeeping efforts across the world.

The third significant
point on India’s agenda will be counter terrorism. As a country that has been
at the forefront in the fight against terrorism, India will keep the spot light
on counterterrorism, the Indian ambassador said.

Tirumurti added
that in the seven months of India’s tenure at the security council, India has
taken “principled and forward-looking position on various issues”.

“We have been
unafraid of shouldering responsibilities. We have been proactive. We have focussed
on issues of our priority,” Tirumurti said.

India’s two-year tenure
as a non-permanent member of the Security Council began on January 1, 2021. This
is India’s first presidency during the tenure. India will assume presidency of
the UNSC again in December, 2022.