Obama Backs Security Council Bid

President Barack Obama announced  yesterday that he would support India’s attempt to get on the United Nations’ Security Council. Speaking in Mumbai, on the first leg of his ten-day tour of South Asia, he emphasized India’s role in partnering with the U.S to take steps against militancy and terrorism.

India has been lobbying for a permanent seat in the Security Council for eight years. The current permanent members are the U.S, Russia, China, France and the U.K.

Despite the president’s backing, however, the move could take years to accomplish, especially since there are other countries, like Japan, Germany and Brazil that would then expect a seat as well.

During his trip, the president also visited a memorial to the victims of the 2008 Mumbai attacks that left 174 people dead. Earlier, he had announced an Indo-U.S trade deal worth $10 billion.

The real success of his trip however, in the eyes of Indians at least, will be judged by how quickly this culminates in India realizing its Security Council ambitions.