Obama Backs India On UN Security Council

Barack Obama has endorsed India's demand for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.      

              The US President was speaking before the Indian parliament, in New Delhi, on the third and final day of his visit to the country. India has been pushing for permanent Security Council Links (http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/unsc_background.html) membership for years.

Mr Obama said: "As two global leaders, the United States and India can partner for global security, especially as India serves on the Security Council over the next two years. Indeed, the just and sustainable international order that America seeks includes a United Nations that is efficient, effective, credible and legitimate. "That is why I can say... in the years ahead, I look forward to a reformed UN Security Council that includes India as a permanent member." It was a largely symbolic move that may put diplomatic pressure on rival regional power China.

Ben Rhodes, White House deputy national security adviser, told reporters ahead of the speech "this was a full endorsement" for India's permanent membership. It could still be a pipe dream and is likely face resistance from countries reluctant to water down the power of the five permanent members - Britain, China, France, Russia and the US.