G4 nations

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“Group of Four” redirects here. For the Australian term for the Group of Four ISPs, see Group of Four (Australia).

The G4 member states were:

G4 countries.

The G4 (Group of Four) was an alliance among India, Germany, Japan and Brazil for the purpose of supporting each other’s bid for permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council. Unlike the G8 (formerly known as G7), where the common denominator is the economy and long term political motives, the G4's primary aim is the coveted permanent member seats on the UN Security Council.

The UN currently has five permanent members with veto powers in the Security Council: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The G4 nations are regularly elected to two-year terms on the Security Council by their respective groups: in the 20-year period from 1987 to 2006, Japan and Brazil were elected for four terms each, and Germany for three terms. India has been elected to the council six times in total, although its last term was 1991-92.

While almost all nations have agreed in principle that the UN needs a revamping which includes expansion, few countries are willing to talk about the exact time frame for such a reorganization. Also there has been discontent among the present permanent members regarding the inclusion of controversial nations or countries not supported by them. For instance, Japan's bid is heavily opposed by the People's Republic of China. At the same time Japan finds strong support from the USA ^[1] and the UK. ^[2]

France and the UK have announced that they support the claims of the G4.^[3] Note that nearby countries with less chance of a Security Council seat for themselves often oppose the efforts of the G-4— so Pakistan opposes a Security Council seat for India, South Korea opposes a seat for Japan, Argentina opposes a seat for Brazil, and Italy opposes a seat for Germany (see Uniting for Consensus). Also important are historical and recent political animosities.

The G4 suggested that two African nations be included in the enlarged UNSC. In several conferences during the summer of 2005, the African Union was unable to agree on two nominees: Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa all lay claim for a permanent African UNSC seat. ^[4]^[5]

A UN General Assembly in September 2005 marked the 60th anniversary of the UN and the members were to decide on a number of necessary reforms—including the enlarged SC. However the unwillingness to find a negotiable position stopped even the most urgent reforms; the September 2005 General Assembly was a setback for the UN.

The G4 retain their goal of permanent UNSC membership for all four nations (plus two African nations). However, Japan announced in January 2006 that it would not support a retabling of the G4 resolution and was working on a resolution of its own.^[6]