Skip to main content
India - US

Obama calls for permanent UN Security Council seat for India

US President Barack Obama said Monday that India should have a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. He was addressing the Indian parliament in New Delhi at the end of a three-day visit to India. Earlier, at a joint press conference with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he hailed deeper and closer ties between the countries.

Reuters
Advertising

"I can say today, in the years ahead, I look forward to a reformed UN Security Council that includes India as a permanent member," Obama said.

He said a permament Indian seat would be part of "a United Nations that is efficient, effective, credible and legitimate".

Earlier, in a joint press conference with Singh, he said India has established itself as a world power and a natural US ally on the global stage.

Singh said the two countries will work as "equal partners" in a strategic relationship to promote global peace and stability.

Obama has

called for dialogue

between India and Pakistan, but said Monday that the US could not impose solutions over issues like the disputed region of Kashmir, which deeply divide the two nations.

"I believe both Pakistan and India have an interest in reducing tensions between the two countries," Obama said when asked about the Kashmir dispute.

As the trip came to an end, the two countries signed a raft of commercial deals, along with agreements to cooperate more closely in agriculture, health and energy.

Obama said that the principles of democracy and human rights were too often ignored around the world, which was riven with conflicts and misunderstandings between nations.

"For our two countries to be able stand together to promote these principles in international forums, I think can be incredibly powerful and incredibly important," he said at a joint press conference with Singh.

Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning

Keep up to date with international news by downloading the RFI app

Share :
Page not found

The content you requested does not exist or is not available anymore.