Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has told a joint sitting of the US Congress that the failure to reform global multilateral institutions such as the United Nations (UN) would lead to mounting of rivalries.
“When the world changes, our institutions must change, too. Or, risk getting replaced by a world of rivalries without rules,” the Indian leader said in his address at the Capitol Hill on Thursday.
“We must revive multilateralism and reform multilateral institutions, with better resources and representation,” Modi remarked.
Reforming the global governance structure also figured in bilateral discussions between the Indian leader and US President Joe Biden at the White House, according to the joint statement issued after restricted and delegation-level talks between the two leaders.
Modi was also hosted for a state banquet by Biden and US First Lady Jill Biden at the White House.
The joint statement noted that both sides remain committed to a “comprehensive UN reform agenda”, which includes the expansion of permanent and non-permanent categories of membership of the UN Security Council.
It said that Biden shared Modi’s view about global governance being “more inclusive and representative” and reiterated Washington’s support for a permanent seat for India at the Security Council.
The joint statement also noted that Biden welcomed India’s candidature as a non-permanent member of the UNSC in 2028-29 in view of its “significant contributions” to the UN system, commitment to multilateralism and “constructive engagement” in the Inter-Governmental Negotiations (IGN) process on Security Council reform.
Modi will conclude his state visit to the US on Friday after attending a state luncheon hosted by US Vice-president Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The Indian leader will also interact with the Indian-American community before he jets off to Egypt in his two-nation visit.