Indian diplomat DB Venkatesh Varma chairs UNSG advisory body on disarmament

New Delhi: A senior Indian diplomat has chaired the United Nations Secretary-General's (UNSG) Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters (ABDM) for the first time ever in what can be described as a milestone in Indian diplomacy.

The ABDM held its meeting in New York from June 24 to 26, under the leadership of Ambassador DB Venkatesh Varma (former Ambassador to Russia & Conference on Disarmament, Geneva), who currently serves as the board's chair. Although India has long participated in the Advisory Board, this is the first time an Indian diplomat has been appointed to head the board which plays a significant role in global disarmament matters. According to Varma, the New York meeting held significance amid two conflicts in West Asia and Ukraine.

Varma is among India's foremost experts on disarmament matters and Russia. He had served in the Prime Minister's Office earlier in his career, including during the time of negotiations for the India-US nuclear deal. He was India's ambassador to Russia, navigating the strategic partnership between the two countries during a critical phase, including during the Covid era which required coordination between various Russian and Indian agencies.