Despite intense lobbying, Germany does not join the UN Security Council. The five countries chosen
The UN General Assembly on Tuesday elected Austria, Kyrgyzstan, Portugal, Trinidad & Tobago and Zimbabwe to serve on the UN Security Council for two years, with a term starting on January 1, 2027, according to Reuters.
Germany had lobbied hard for a seat on the 15-member council, but came third in the race for the two seats contested by the Western Europe and Others Group, with 104 votes. Portugal scored 134 and Austria 131.
In the Asia-Pacific Group, the tie between the Philippines and Kyrgyzstan was made only after four rounds of voting. The Central Asian country finally won the two-thirds majority it needed to secure what will be its first-ever seat on the UN Security Council by a vote of 142 to 9.
Composition of the UN Security Council
The Security Council is the only UN body that can make legally binding decisions, such as imposing sanctions and authorizing the use of force. It has five permanent members with veto power, namely Great Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.
The other 10 members of the body are elected. Five new members enter these places each year. This year one comes from the African Group, another from the Latin American and Caribbean Group, another from the Asia-Pacific Group, and two from the Western European Group and others.
Zimbabwe will replace Somalia and Trinidad and Tobago will replace Panama, while Portugal and Austria will replace Denmark and Greece. Kyrgyzstan will replace Pakistan.
Bahrain, Colombia, Congo, Latvia and Liberia will continue to be non-permanent members of the Security Council until the end of 2027.
On Tuesday, the General Assembly elected Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman as president of the 193-member body for its 81st session, which begins in September.
