Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who met visiting Indian counterpart S Jaishankar in Moscow on December 27, expressed Moscow's support for India's bid for a permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
"Russian Foreign minister Lavrov backs India's permanent membership for UNSC...For us, Russia is a valued partner, time tested partner. It's a relationship from which both have benefitted on international north south transport corridor," Jaishankar said at a joint press briefing.
The Indian external affairs minister added that New Delhi and Moscow's ties have strengthened by their "stands at various multilateral platforms including the UN, SCO (Shangai Cooperation Organisation) and the BRICS".
"Both Russia and India want an open and fair international system,” he added.
Lavrov's reiteration of Moscow's support for India's UNSC permanent membership comes months after the United States -- Russia's top rival and a member of the UNSC -- also backed New Delhi's bid.
Of the other four members of the UNSC, i.e., Russia, France, the United Kingdom, and China, only the Chinese leadership is yet to support India’s push for a permanent seat at the coveted council when it is expanded.
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Jaishankar and Lavrov, during their meeting today, signed the protocol of consultations between the Indian and Russian foreign ministries for the period stretching from 2024 to 2028.
Despite Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, India-Russia relations have remained strong. The Indian government is yet to denounce Russia's invasion of Ukraine, arguing that the problem must be addressed via diplomacy and negotiation. Despite growing concern in many Western countries, India's imports of Russian crude oil have increased dramatically.
In his initial remarks on arriving in Moscow for a five-day visit, Jaishankar said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin have been in constant touch. Top officials between the two countries have been constantly meeting, "and this year we have already met six times, and this is our 7th meeting".
"Our relations have been very strong, very steady. And I think we have lived up to a special and privileged strategic partnership," he added.
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