Obama was making the announcement in a speech on Monday to India's parliament on the third and final day of his visit. In doing so, he fulfilled what was perhaps India's dearest wish for Obama's trip here. India has been pushing for permanent Security Council membership for years.
"The just and sustainable international order that America seeks includes a United Nations that is efficient, effective, credible and legitimate," Obama said in prepared remarks.
"That is why I can say today - in the years ahead, I look forward to a reformed UN Security Council that includes India as a permanent member."
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The announcement does not mean that India will join the five current permanent Security Council members anytime soon. The US is backing its membership only in the context of unspecified reforms to the council that could take years to bring about.
That makes Obama's announcement more a diplomatic gesture than a concrete step. Nonetheless, it underscores the importance the US places on fostering ties with this nation of 1.2 billion people, something Obama has been seeking to accomplish throughout his time here.
