Russia backs India's permanent UNSC bid, says can't allocate more seats to West

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Saturday backed India’s candidature for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), while opposing the allocation of additional permanent seats to Western countries.

Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, Lavrov said UNSC reform should broaden representation from the Global South, particularly Asia, Africa and Latin America.

“UN Security Council reform cannot involve any additional seats being allocated to Western countries, especially to Germany and Japan, who are now on the path to militarism and revanchism,” Lavrov said.

“We are in favour of broadening the representation of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. We support Brazil's and India's candidatures for a permanent seat,” he added.

Lavrov also said the interests of the African continent must be addressed as part of the reform process.

India’s bid received support from other countries during the ongoing UNGA general debate.

Mauritian Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful said his country supported the G4 and L69 positions on UNSC reform and reiterated support for India’s candidature for a permanent seat.

“We support the positions of the G4 and of L69 on Council reform, and we reiterate our support for India's candidature for a permanent seat, commensurate with its constructive role in global affairs,” Ramful said.

Portugal also backed structural reform of the UNSC, with Prime Minister Luis Montenegro calling for a more representative Council with permanent representation for Africa, Brazil and India.

The Marshall Islands, meanwhile, reiterated its support for Japan and its G4 partners for permanent membership of the UNSC. President Hilda Heine said, “The Marshall Islands affirms its longstanding support for Japan and its G4 partners to achieve permanent membership on the UN Security Council.”

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called for the Council to be transformed to reflect current global realities, advocating expansion in both permanent and non-permanent categories.

African countries also renewed demands for greater representation. Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio said the UNSC still reflected the world of 1945 and noted that Africa, despite its population of more than 1.6 billion, has no permanent seat.

Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama said UNSC reform was necessary for the legitimacy and credibility of the United Nations.

The five permanent members, China, France, Russia, the UK and the US, currently hold veto powers, while 10 non-permanent members serve two-year terms. Any amendment to the UN Charter requires a two-thirds majority in the General Assembly and ratification by two-thirds of UN member states, including all five permanent members.- Ends