Several African nations back India's demand for permanent UNSC seat

GANDHINAGAR/ AHMEDABAD: The country's largest annual defence showcase, DefExpo 2022, began in Gandhinagar on Tuesday with a thrust on "Atmanirbharta", or self-reliance, in defence manufacturing.
Defence giants like Boeing India, Lockheed Martin Aerostructures, Kalyani Group's Bharat Forge Ltd, Adani Defence Aerospace, L&T Defence and others are looking to expand their manufacturing capabilities and forge partnerships.
Defence minister Rajnath Singh said at the India-Africa Defence Dialogue (IADD) event, part of DefExpo 2022, that India does not believe in a hierarchical world order where a few countries are considered superior to others. "Our international relations are guided by the essence of human equality and dignity, part of India's ancient ethos," he said.
In their speeches, several defence ministers from the African Union showed solidarity with India's demand for a permanent seat on the UNSC. Some recurring issues discussed by the ministers included cross-border terrorism, human trafficking, extremism, keeping the Indian Ocean accessible to all, cybersecurity, and training of defence forces. The culmination of the dialogue took shape in the "Gandhinagar Declaration" in which the signing countries pledged to enhance cooperation in maritime security, military training for capacity building, participation in joint exercises, and humanitarian assistance during natural disasters.