Russia backs India for permanent UNSC seat, rejects more Western members

Speaking during the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, Lavrov said Moscow supports the candidatures of both India and Brazil for permanent membership.

His remarks came amid renewed calls for reform of the Security Council, whose current structure dates back to the post-World War II era.

Lavrov backs India, Brazil

“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,” Lavrov said.

Russia's position places India and Brazil among the countries Moscow wants to see represented permanently on a reformed Security Council.

Lavrov, however, argued against adding more Western countries to the permanent membership and specifically opposed potential seats for Germany and Japan, accusing them of moving towards “militarism and revanchism”.

Russia opposes more Western seats

Lavrov said Security Council reform should not involve allocating additional permanent seats to Western countries, particularly Germany and Japan.

At the same time, he stressed that any reform should preserve the existing permanent members' core prerogatives and powers, including their role in the Council's decision-making structure.

The five current permanent members are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. The Council also has 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.

Mauritius also supports India's bid

Russia was not the only country to publicly support India's candidature during the UNGA.

Mauritian Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful reiterated his country's backing for India's permanent membership, saying Mauritius supports the positions of the G4 and L69 groupings on Security Council reform.

The G4 comprises India, Brazil, Germany and Japan, which jointly advocate permanent membership for themselves alongside greater representation for Africa.

UNSC reform remains a complex process

Despite renewed diplomatic backing for reform, changing the Security Council's composition requires an amendment to the UN Charter.

Such an amendment requires approval by a two-thirds majority of the General Assembly and ratification by two-thirds of UN member states, including all five existing permanent members.

The 81st UN General Assembly is currently holding its high-level week in New York, with Security Council reform among the broader issues surrounding efforts to modernise the UN system.

Russia's support therefore adds to India's diplomatic backing for permanent membership, but it does not by itself alter the formal requirements for Security Council reform.