Currently, there are five permanent members of the UNSC — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States
New Delhi: On Thursday External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed confidence in the Rajya Sabha that India would become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) “one day” and added the work in continuing in right direction of the progressive step.
S Jaishankar said it takes a long and patient effort for getting a permanent membership in the council. In Rajya Sabha, he said “Well, I will hopefully soon. But I am realistic enough to know that it is a long and patient effort. We are not lacking in patience and not lacking in our perseverance and we are not lacking in our aspirations. We will get that one day. I am very confident and it is progressing step by step,”.
Jaishankar was replying to a question from Vijila Sathyananth (AIADMK) on India’s entry into the UNSC as a permanent member. Currently, there are five permanent members of the UNSC — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
On India’s S-400 missile deal with Russia, Jaishankar assured the members that the country had made it “very clear” to everybody that it took decisions on merits.
“India will not be influenced by other countries on what we do in terms of our national security and defense. If we have committed to the S-400 agreement, which we have, then other countries need to respect that decision,” he added.
India and Russia together have signed the USD 5 billion S-400 air defense system deal. Speaking about India’s relations with the US following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Houston visit, the Foreign minister said: “Our government heard two-three important messages from Houston. One of the Indian community stands united in support of India. They came to Houston to extend support for India, the changes in India. I think that is important and should be welcomed.”
As regards the concerns about how this would be perceived in the US, Jaishankar said the government handled the US in a bipartisan manner.
“I would like to assure you that our relationship goes across party divides in the US. It is today a very durable relationship. It is a relationship which has got a very firm foundation, so we can be assured that there won’t be any issue in that regard,” he said
Questioned about Pakistan, Jaishankar said, “We will have to accept that it is a unique neighbor, different from all other neighbors. But when it comes to the Neighbourhood First policy, our objective today is that all our neighbours work with us. In different ways and we have connectivity with them.”
Jaishankar said if we look at trade, projects, and visas, every number with every neighbor, barring Pakistan, was better than what it was before.
Jaishankar added “Our Government has made it very clear to them that we will be generous and large-hearted and I think that has been the prime minister’s message from his first visit to Nepal in 2014. The message which he carried to other countries as well. They have great faith in his leadership to deliver on that,”.
The foreign minister on India’s relationship with Sri Lanka said he had visited the southern neighbor a day after the new president was sworn-in.
“We briefly discussed the bilateral relationship. The president of Sri Lanka is due in India for a visit, many of our bilateral concerns will be discussed. The relevant points which I would like to make for the consideration of the House are that the president assured us that he is the president of all Sri Lankans,” he said.
“So I think we need to a look at that assurance and obviously, whatever discussion will happen during his visit will demonstrate where that assurance holds,” he added.
When questioned about relations with Nepal, Jaishankar said many issues were sorted out amicably. The minister said negotiations with France were going on regarding a nuclear power plant. Elaborating further, he said there were issues with regard to the techno-commercial offer. The issue was raised by Jairam Ramesh of the Congress.
“The member is fully aware that nuclear plants and contracts take a long time, in fact, many years to negotiate and fructify,” Jaishankar said. He added that the central government was fully committed to ensuring the safety and security of the nuclear plants in the country.
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