Lavrov says Russia supports India's bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told the UN General Assembly on Saturday that Russia supports permanent seats for India and Brazil, and opposes additional permanent seats for Western countries. That is a statement of support. It does not itself change the Council's membership.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Saturday said Russia supports India's candidature for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. India Today reported the remarks from his address to the General Assembly. He also backed Brazil, and he opposed extra permanent seats for Western countries. The speech is support for those candidatures. India Today also set out how the UN Charter is amended. A statement by one permanent member sits inside that rule. It does not itself add a seat.
India Today quoted him: "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." He 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 said Africa's interests must be addressed. The words about Germany and Japan are his. He also called for a larger place for Asia, Africa and Latin America.
TASS reported his press conference after that speech, at the general debate of the 81st session, on 26 September. He said the West is already overrepresented and that Moscow cannot allow new "Western seats." TASS quoted him: "We cannot provide for or allow any new 'Western seats,' because the West is already overrepresented." He again excluded extra seats "especially" for Germany and Japan, "which have embarked on a path of militarization and revanchism." TASS said he repeated Russia's support for permanent seats for Brazil and India, while meeting Africa's interests in line with the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration. TASS names those two documents. It does not quote their text.
Other speakers in the same debate, as India Today reported them, also addressed India's bid. Mauritian Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful said Mauritius supports the G4 and L69 positions on Council reform, and supports India's candidature for a permanent seat, "commensurate with its constructive role in global affairs." Portugal's Prime Minister Luis Montenegro called for a more representative Council, with permanent representation for Africa, Brazil and India. Those are further statements of support. India Today did not report them as a vote.
A different view on who should sit permanently was also on the record. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called for the Council to reflect current realities, with expansion in both permanent and non-permanent seats. President Hilda Heine of the Marshall Islands said: "The Marshall Islands affirms its longstanding support for Japan and its G4 partners to achieve permanent membership on the UN Security Council." Lavrov's objection to new Western seats, and his naming of Germany and Japan, is the other side of that argument. This article reports both as the speakers gave them. The reports use the labels G4 and L69. They do not list the members.
Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio said the Council still reflects 1945, and that Africa, with more than 1.6 billion people, has no permanent seat. Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama said reform is required for the United Nations to stay credible. Neither report said a permanent African seat was agreed.
India Today reported the Council as it stands. Five permanent members, China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States, hold a veto. Ten non-permanent members serve two-year terms. An amendment to the Charter needs a two-thirds majority in the General Assembly and ratification by two-thirds of member states, including all five permanent members. Lavrov's support for India is the stated position of one of those five.
What's next
Any change in who holds a permanent seat has to pass the amendment test India Today reported: a two-thirds vote in the General Assembly, then ratification by two-thirds of member states, including every permanent member. These reports give no date for such a vote. They record the speeches in the 81st session's general debate.
Key facts
- On Saturday, at the General Assembly, Lavrov said Russia supports Brazil's and India's candidatures for a permanent seat, India Today reported.
- He said Council reform should broaden representation from Asia, Africa and Latin America, and that it cannot add seats for Western countries, especially Germany and Japan.
- At a press conference the same day, TASS reported, he repeated that Moscow cannot allow new Western seats, and tied Africa's interests to the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration.
- Mauritius and Portugal, in the same General Assembly debate, also backed a permanent seat or permanent representation for India. The Marshall Islands backed Japan and its G4 partners.
- India Today set out the Charter rule: an amendment needs a two-thirds majority in the General Assembly and ratification by two-thirds of member states, including all five permanent members.
What each side says
Russia
Lavrov said Russia supports permanent seats for India and Brazil, wants a wider place for Asia, Africa and Latin America, and opposes additional permanent seats for Western countries, naming Germany and Japan.
Japan and the Marshall Islands
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called for expansion in both permanent and non-permanent seats. President Hilda Heine said the Marshall Islands supports Japan and its G4 partners for permanent membership.
Not confirmed
- That India has been given a permanent seat, or that it will receive one. The reports carry statements of support and the amendment rule.
- A response from the Indian government in these two accounts.
- A definition, in these reports, of who sits in the G4 or the L69 group. Speakers used those names. The articles here do not spell out the lists.