India and Brazil should be permanent members of UNSC: Russia at Raisina Dialogue

Speaking at Raisina Dialogue, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says developed countries have not paid heed to the demands of developing nations.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the Raisina Dialogue 2020 | ANI Photo

New Delhi: Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Wednesday said India and Brazil should become permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) as the needs for developing countries have remained underrepresented.

“India and Brazil should absolutely be at the UNSC. Developing countries should be given adequate representation there,” Lavrov said, adding the developed countries have not paid heed to the demands of the developing countries.

Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue organised by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), Lavrov also said the western countries, especially the US, have failed to address issues at the G-7 and hence the need was felt to create G-20.

Slamming the concept of Indo-Pacific, Lavrov said it makes no sense to create such a grouping when Africa and the Gulf are not included in it.

“It’s not at all open, it’s an attempt to move towards something more divisive. This doesn’t include the Gulf or Africa, it looks benign, but it’s something else,” he said.

Taunting the concept, Lavrov said it was created only to counter China, and India is well aware of this.

Lavrov will be leaving for Russia Wednesday. He came to India only for a few hours.

‘Partnership will continue’

On the relationship between India and Russia that have come under stress due to the ongoing American sanctions, Lavrov said Moscow and New Delhi have been strategic partners for the last two decades.

“Russia and India signed Strategic Partnership agreement 20 years ago. We believe this partnership will continue,” he said.

This was also echoed by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar who said India and Russia have an “extraordinary relationship”. He was speaking at a separate session at the same event.

India and Russia have come under the threat of US sanctions over the $5.5 billion deal on S-400 air defence systems.

There are defence deals to the tune of $12 billion in the pipeline between India and Russia.