India's bid is backed by permanent members France, Russia and the United Kingdom. The Chinese government in Beijing has recently advocated the candidacy. Also, several countries like Bangladesh, Chile, Australia,Czech Republic, and the African Union have openly supported India's candidacy.
Though initially opposed by the Chinese due to geo-political reasons, recent history has turned China's official support for India's candidature from negative to neutral to positive, in correlation with stronger economic ties. On 11 April 2005 China announced it would support India's bid for a permanent seat, but without a veto. Although the U.S. officially does not back India's bid for various reasons, some of which remain decidedly unclear it has privately been eager to work with India and to support the nation (which translates to not using a veto). However Indo-American relations are currently improving from the Cold War levels of de facto derision, marked by an alliance of mutuality, recently, in March 2006, by the US President George W. Bush making a visit to India, signing a civilian nuclear power sharing programme.
Taking into account its huge population and growing economic and political clout, India is a strong contender to clinch a permanent seat. Another factor which bolsters India's candidature is the fact it has participated in several of its activities, including UN operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cyprus, Cambodia, Yemen, Somalia, Rwanda , Namibia, Sinai peninsula, among others.