Russia again backs India for permanent UNSC membership

Russia’s foreign Sergey Lavrov has backed India’s entry into the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as a permanent member, ahead of special events in the UNSC hosted by India on counter-terrorism and reformed multilateralism this week, describing the country as one of the most important poles of the emerging multipolar world order.

“I think that India is currently one of the leading countries in terms of economic growth, maybe even the leader,” Lavrov recently said while addressing the Primakov Readings, one of the prominent foreign policy conferences of Russia. “Its population will soon be bigger than that of any other country. New Delhi has vast diplomatic experience in settling various kinds of problems, as well as authority and a reputation in its region. It is part of a range of integration structures in South Asia, within the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) and, of course, it takes an active role in the UN. Naturally, India is one of those countries that not only claim but are the essence of the emerging multipolar world as one of its most important poles.”

Lavrov said the same can be said about Brazil when it comes to reflecting multipolarity within a reformed UN Security Council. “In recent years, India and Brazil have been promoting their applications to join the UN Security Council together with Japan and Germany, which is a sign of multipolarity. A G4 group of sorts. We see what added value India and Brazil can bring to the UN Security Council knowing their stances on global and regional issues,” he said.


During India’s presidency two events are scheduled on December 14-15, on Reformed Multilateralism and Counter-Terrorism respectively, to be chaired by external affairs minister S Jaishankar.

The open debate on the theme ‘Maintenance of International Peace and Security: New Orientation for Reformed Multilateralism’ on December 14 will encourage UN member states to take the discussions forward on reforms in the current multilateral architecture with the UN at its centre to make it more representative and fit for purpose.