“United Nations is a toothless tiger”, this popular phrase represents the current state of the highly hailed United Nations Organization(UNO). October 24 marks the UN Day. This day in 1945, an ambitious multilateral organization was formed to end the World War hostilities, bridge the rivalry between nations and to chart the path for a prosperous world. The then big global powers including the USA, Russia, Britain, France and others resolved to champion the cause of a united multilateral world, where every member-state is poised to work towards sustainable and mutual development and at the same time acknowledge to share shoulders for common problems.
80 years later nature, relevance and representative character of the United Nations is much contested and debated. Reflecting upon the current stature of the UN raises serious questions on its credibility and its ability to navigate the present era geopolitical challenges. Be it the UNSC reforms, the climate actions on the lines of Paris Agreement or fulfilling the goals of sustainable development, the UN is unable to accomplish the agenda mentioned in its charter. With respect to ending the hostile wars either in West Asia or in Europe, the UN is not able to deliver anything except aspirational statements. The civil wars and humanitarian concerns spiking in Asia and Africa are beyond the reach and rectification of the United Nations.
With unending wars, spiking climate catastrophes, unpredictable health hazards and most importantly weaponization of trade and energy, UN has been a bystander and vague spectator in all the scenarios. Emerging economies and sound democracies such as India, Brazil, South Africa and Germany repeatedly voice for the UN reforms in alignment with the current world order. They consistently vote to reform UN and make it truly representative and functional. Despite such relentless effort by countries like India, UN is currently jeopardized and is under a stalemate, still representing the world order prevalent in 1945.
For example, India, Japan and Germany are one among the top 10 economies of the world and India specifically being the fourth largest set to become the third largest economy in the near future doesn’t have the permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council. The aspirations and developmental agenda of the Global South are little heard and reciprocated. The United Nations apparently still represent the western dominated world order of the 20th century.
The permanent members of UNSC have the “veto power”, a power often misused to fulfill selfish hegemonic or geopolitical goals and to thwart genuine aspirations or concerns of the countries like India. For example, every time India strives to sanction a Pakistan-nurtured terrorist under UNSC 1267 list, some permanent member of the UNSC withholds it with its special power. Such is the state of UN currently, no accountability, no true power to recalibrate the organization and no scope for reform. UN is stuck in a terrible gridlock.
“All is not well with the UN”: Dr. S. Jaishankar
External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on the occasion of the UN Day reiterated that “all is not well” in the global forum. “In an era of conflict there is a need for peace and this is what the postage stamp represents. The world is going through difficult times. All is not well with the UN”, asserted EAM Jaishankar while releasing a commemorative postage stamp in New Delhi on the occasion of the UN Day.
EAM Jaishankar also stressed about the urgent reforms required in the United Nations to fulfill the goals of true multilateralism. He further added that multilateralism should be reflective of the hopes and aspirations of the Global South. He also highlighted India’s strong commitment to the UN ideals and assured for greater international cooperation. “India has always been a strong supporter of the United Nations and will continue to be so. However, the UN’s decisions neither reflect its membership nor global priorities. Meaningful reform in the UN is being blocked by using the reform process itself”, Dr. S. Jaishankar asserted.
Speaking at the UN@80 celebrations New Delhi.
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https://t.co/hRolVCiO1T— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) October 24, 2025
“UN must act or risk losing its credibility”: Anurag Thakur
Speaking at the United Nations earlier in the week, BJP MP Anurag Thakur warned the United Nations either to act immediately or risk losing its credibility in the wake of spiking geopolitical upheavals and conflicts. He exclaimed that urgent reforms are required to make the UN more accountable and outcome-oriented. Anurag Thakur also highlighted India’s consist rule in the UN peace-keeping missions, humanitarian assistance and in advocating the agenda of multilateralism. He asserted that UN should reflect the voices of the people and global priorities.
The United Nations on the occasion of its 80th anniversary, thus, encounters more contradictions, credibility questions and accountability conundrums than ever before. With spiraling geopolitical, economic and security hustles UN has been a mere spectator. With few nations dominating and asserting superiority based on the not so relevant and age-old principles, UN is stuck in a stalemate. It is high-time UN goes for a comprehensive reform and gives a high-stake position for the emerging and responsible economies like India for the sake global good and to realize the ambitions mentioned in the UN Charter.
