India’s long-standing bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council received fresh support from Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic during the first Visegrád Group (V4)-India foreign ministers’ meeting in New York.
V4 countries support India’s UNSC bid
The four Central European countries, which make up the V4, expressed support for India’s inclusion as a permanent member of the UN’s top decision-making body.
Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár said the V4 countries agreed that India, as a leading country of the Global South and an emerging power in the Indo-Pacific, should have a place as a permanent member of the Security Council.
The support came during the 81st United Nations General Assembly high-level week, where External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar represented India.
India and V4 deepen cooperation
Jaishankar described the first V4-India meeting as a “new historic occasion”. Discussions covered political and economic relations as well as defence, technology, innovation, space, connectivity and people-to-people ties.
India and the four countries also agreed to explore an annual business forum and regular meetings between their foreign ministers.
Jaishankar said the V4 countries possess strong industrial, technological and innovation capabilities, adding that India welcomed greater cooperation with the group.
Reform remains a major UN issue
The Security Council currently has 15 members, including five permanent members — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States — and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.
India has been seeking comprehensive reform of the Council and a permanent seat, arguing for greater representation of contemporary global realities.
The latest V4 backing adds four more countries to the list supporting India’s position, although any change to the Security Council’s composition requires a wider UN reform process.