UN General Assembly elects new members to Security Council

NEW YORK: The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday elected Austria, Portugal, Trinidad and Tobago, and Zimbabwe as new non-permanent members of the 15-member UN Security Council for two-year terms beginning January 1, 2027.

A third round of voting was underway to decide the fifth available seat, contested between the Philippines and Kyrgyzstan.

Germany, which had actively campaigned for a seat, finished third in the Western European and Others Group, securing 104 votes compared to 134 for Portugal and 131 for Austria.

The UN Security Council is the only body within the United Nations with the authority to pass legally binding resolutions, including imposing sanctions and authorising the use of force. It comprises five permanent members with veto power, Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, along with 10 non-permanent members elected on a rotating basis.

Each year, five new members are elected, with representation distributed across regional groups. This year, one seat goes to Africa, one to the Asia-Pacific region, one to Latin America and the Caribbean, and two to the Western European and Others Group.

Zimbabwe will replace Somalia, Trinidad and Tobago will take over from Panama, while Portugal and Austria will replace Denmark and Greece. The remaining seat will be filled by either the Philippines or Kyrgyzstan, replacing Pakistan.