India’s demand for permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has received Russian support. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov supported India’s permanent seat in the ongoing 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York. He said that we support the claims of Brazil and India for permanent membership. Lavrov said that the representation of Asia, Africa and Latin America should be increased in the Security Council.

Russia says that as the Global South’s role in the world has grown, so too should its representation in the United Nations’ top security body. However, Russia opposed new permanent seats for Western countries. Lavrov specifically named Germany and Japan. He said that Western countries should not have more seats in the Security Council. According to Russia, Germany and Japan are moving in the direction of militarism.

BIG at UNGA Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov backed India’s bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. pic.twitter.com/Qb3h4KgSvO

— Shadow IND (@ShadowIND_IN) September 26, 2026

Russia clarified one more thing

Russia said reforming the Security Council should not undermine the rights and powers of the current five permanent members. Russia has already talked about adding new permanent members to the council and maintaining the existing veto system. Apart from Russia, India has also received support from Mauritius and Portugal.

Mauritius Foreign Minister Dhananjaya Ramful supported India’s claim for a permanent seat. He also supported the Security Council reform efforts of the G4 and L69 groups. Portugal has also expressed support for making India a permanent member. India’s demand for permanent membership in the UNSC has been growing since the 1990s. India furthered its demand for a permanent seat in 2010 by forming the G4 grouping with Brazil, Germany and Japan. While L69 is a group of more than 40 developing countries.

A change will take place with a two-thirds majority

Currently there are 15 members in total in UNSC. Out of which 5 are permanent and 10 temporary members. China, France, Russia, Britain and the US are permanent members and have veto power. The remaining 10 members are elected for two years. India has been a provisional member 8 times.

Changing the structure of the Security Council would require amending the United Nations Charter. This requires a two-thirds majority in the General Assembly and the approval of two-thirds of the member states. This also includes the approval of all five existing permanent members.

This is the reason why the issue of India’s permanent membership has not yet been decided despite Russia’s support. China is opposed to making India a permanent member, while other permanent members of the Security Council have a different stance. Russia’s support is an important diplomatic boost to India’s bid, but formal reform of the council still requires broad consensus.