Narendra Modi set to become first Indian PM to preside over UN Security Council meeting

Narendra Modi will become the first Indian Prime Minister to preside over a meeting of the UN Security Council on August 9. India assumed the presidency of the UNSC on Sunday.

“A first in the making… With India as President of @UN Security Council in August, an Indian Prime Minister may perhaps preside, albeit virtually, a Council meeting for 1st time on 9 August 2021,”  India’s former envoy to the UN Syed Akbaruddin tweeted. 

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 In course of its presidency, India will be seen organising signature events on maritime security, peacekeeping and counter-terrorism.

This will be the first time since independence that Indian political leadership will preside over an event of the 15-member UN body. The first working day of India’s UNSC presidency will be Monday, August 2.  

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

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

India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the country was looking forward to work with other UN members during its presidency. “India will always be a voice of moderation, an advocate of dialogue and a proponent of international law,” he added.

Tirumurti further added that the UN Security Council has planned to hold meetings with the representatives of Syria, Iraq, Somalia, Yemen and other countries in West Asia to discuss counterterrorism measures. 

India has been a non-permanent member of the Security Council since January 1, 2021. Non-permanent members get a two-year tenure.