Title: Putin Advocates for India’s Inclusion in United Nations Security Council
Subtitle: Russian President proposes reforming the UNSC to include India as a member
Date: October 6, 2023
In a recent discussion forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin voiced his support for reforming the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to include India as a permanent member. Putin’s proposal comes as India’s temporary membership in the UNSC expired in 2022.
During the annual Valdai Discussion Club conference held in Sochi, Russia, Putin praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and highlighted India’s significant influence in international affairs. He emphasized that countries like India, with a population of 1.5 billion people and a GDP growth rate of over 7%, deserve greater representation and the opportunity to contribute to resolving global issues.
Putin commended India’s high-tech exports, which have been witnessing exponential growth, and acknowledged Prime Minister Modi’s leadership in making India stronger each year. The Russian President highlighted the unique international partnership between India and Russia, specifically mentioning India’s substantial purchases of Russian oil and its longstanding reliance on Russian weapons for its military.
However, Putin’s proposal to include India as a permanent member of the UNSC faces resistance from China, which has emerged as a diplomatic ally of Russia, particularly amidst increased international sanctions against Moscow due to its actions in Ukraine.
The UNSC currently consists of five permanent members – China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US – while ten non-permanent members are elected for two-year terms. India’s previous non-permanent membership in the UNSC has led to its decades-long advocacy for a permanent seat.
Alongside his suggestion for UNSC reforms, Putin has also pushed for the lifting of atomic test bans. The speaker of the lower house, Vyacheslav Volodin, hinted at the possibility of Moscow rescinding the ratification of the international pact banning nuclear tests, citing the United States’ failure to ratify the treaty as a quid-pro-quo response.
While the inclusion of India in the UNSC would require significant international support, Putin’s proposal opens up discussions on the need for representation that reflects the evolving global landscape. As geopolitical dynamics continue to shift, the question of who gets a seat at the proverbial table of global decision-making becomes increasingly relevant.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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