What happened?
Panama’s Foreign Minister Javier Martinez Acha backed India’s bid for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) during his address to an All-Party Parliamentary Delegation led by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor. Acha noted that India-Panama relations are rooted in mutual respect and a shared vision of prosperity and peace. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had previously stated that the Indian government accords the highest priority to gaining permanent membership in an expanded UNSC, engaging both bilaterally and multilaterally. India is working alongside other reform-oriented countries through groups like G-4 (India, Japan, Brazil, and Germany) and the L.69 Group.
Why it matters to India
Panama’s support for India’s permanent UNSC seat strengthens India’s diplomatic efforts to gain a greater voice in global governance. This endorsement highlights growing international recognition of India’s role and influence on the world stage. Securing a permanent seat in the UNSC is a key foreign policy objective for India, aiming to ensure its rightful place in shaping international peace and security decisions and to better represent the Global South.