Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has backed India’s candidature for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, while opposing the addition of further permanent seats for Western countries. Speaking at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Lavrov called for greater representation from the Global South.Key HighlightsRussia backed India’s bid for permanent UNSC membership.Lavrov also supported Brazil’s candidature.He called for greater representation from Asia, Africa and Latin America.Russia opposed additional permanent seats for Western countries, specifically mentioning Germany and Japan.Lavrov said UNSC reform should preserve the existing prerogatives of permanent members.Lavrov Backs India for Permanent UNSC SeatAddressing the UN General Assembly on Saturday, Sergey Lavrov said Russia supports India and Brazil as candidates for permanent membership of the Security Council.Lavrov said reform should broaden the representation of Asia, Africa and Latin America, arguing that these regions and the wider Global South should have a larger role in the Council.Russia’s position comes as UN member states continue discussions over reforming the Security Council, including proposals to expand its permanent and non-permanent membership.Russia Opposes More Western Permanent SeatsLavrov also said Security Council reform should not include additional permanent seats for Western countries. He specifically referred to Germany and Japan while arguing for greater representation from developing regions.The Russian foreign minister also stressed that any reform should preserve the existing powers and prerogatives of the Council’s permanent members.The five current permanent members are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. The Security Council also has 10 non-permanent members elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms.India’s Longstanding UNSC Reform PushIndia has for years called for comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council and a permanent seat, arguing that the Council should better reflect contemporary global realities.The latest remarks from Moscow add to Russia’s publicly stated position in favour of India’s candidature. Lavrov’s statement also comes after several countries voiced support for India’s permanent membership during the current UN General Assembly session.Mauritius, Portugal and other countries have also discussed broader Security Council representation during the ongoing General Assembly proceedings.What Is the UN Security Council?The UN Security Council is responsible for maintaining international peace and security. It currently has 15 members, including five permanent members with veto power and 10 non-permanent members.Any amendment to the UN Charter involving the Council’s structure requires approval by a two-thirds majority of the General Assembly and ratification by two-thirds of UN member states, including all five permanent members.As discussions on UN reform continue, the question of how many new permanent seats should be created and which countries should receive them remains part of the broader intergovernmental negotiations.
