Russia Endorses India’s Bid for a Permanent UN Security Council Seat

At the 81st United Nations General Assembly, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced Russia’s support for India and Brazil to become permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). He framed the reform debate around greater representation for the Global South—Asia, Africa and Latin America—while opposing expansion of Western influence.

Hindustan TimesCNN-News18Russia backs India’s bid for permanent UNSC seat, opposes Germany, Japan At UN, Russia Backs India's Bid For Permanent Security Council Seat Russia backs India's permanent UNSC bid, says can't allocate more seats to West Russia backs India's claim to UNSC seat, firmly shuts door on Germany & Japan

The UNSC currently has fifteen members: five permanent members with veto power—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States—and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms. Reform requires a two-thirds majority in the General Assembly, ratification by two-thirds of UN members, and the concurrence of all five permanent members. India, together with Brazil, Germany and Japan (the “G4”), seeks a permanent seat to reflect contemporary geopolitical realities.

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• Permanent members: 5 (China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States) – each holds veto power.

At UN, Russia Backs India's Bid For Permanent Security Council Seat

• Non-permanent members: 10, serving staggered two-year terms.

Russia backs India’s bid for permanent UNSC seat, opposes Germany, Japan

• Reform threshold: Two-thirds majority in the General Assembly plus ratification by two-thirds of UN members and agreement of all five permanent members.

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Lavrov emphasized three points: support for India and Brazil, opposition to adding Germany or Japan as new permanent members, and a call to broaden representation for Asia, Africa and Latin America.

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Mauritian Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful echoed Russia’s stance, backing India’s bid and the broader G4 position. Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro called for permanent seats for Africa, Brazil and India, stressing the need for a Council that mirrors the “changing world.”

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The Marshall Islands’ President Hilda Heine affirmed support for Japan and its G4 partners, including India, in pursuit of permanent membership.

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• “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,” — Sergei Lavrov

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• “We support the positions of the G4 and of L69 on Council reform, and we reiterate our support for India's candidature for a permanent seat, commensurate with its constructive role in global affairs.” — Dhananjay Ramful

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Including India and Brazil as permanent members would shift the UNSC balance toward the Global South, potentially altering decisions on peace-keeping, sanctions and other security matters. Russia’s opposition to additional Western seats underscores a broader geopolitical contest over the Council’s future shape.

Hindustan Times

Any amendment to the UN Charter must clear the two-thirds General Assembly vote, ratification by two-thirds of member states, and unanimous consent from the existing permanent members. With Russia, Brazil and several smaller states publicly supporting India’s bid, the diplomatic battle will focus on securing consensus among the remaining permanent members—particularly China, which has expressed reservations about India’s inclusion.

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