UNSC Election: 5 Nations Chosen as Non-Permanent Members

Bahrain, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Latvia and Liberia have been elected as non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council for a two-year term.

• The five replaced Algeria, Guyana, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone and Slovenia, whose terms ended last month.
• These countries will join the other five non-permanent members – Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama and Somalia – who will serve until the end of 2026, along with the five countries that are continuously present – China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
• The P5, as the permanent members are called, have veto power, which allows any one of them to block the adoption of a significant resolution regardless of majority support.
• Under the United Nations Charter, the Security Council has the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. It is the only United Nations body whose decisions are legally binding on all member states.
• It can investigate disputes, urge parties to resolve conflicts, impose sanctions, authorize peacekeeping missions and, in exceptional circumstances, approve the use of force.

About the United Nations Security Council

• Establishment: Established in 1945 through the United Nations Charter as one of the six principal organs of the United Nations.
• Members: 5 permanent members (P5) and 10 non-permanent members.
• The P5 include China, France, Russia, the USA and the UK.
• It is the only United Nations body whose decisions are binding on member states.
• These non-permanent seats are allocated on a regional basis: 5 for African and Asian states, 1 for Eastern European states, 2 for Latin American and Caribbean states and 2 for Western European and other states.
• Elections are held annually through secret ballot, requiring a two-thirds majority, even if candidates are unopposed.

India and the United Nations Security Council

• India presided over the Council in August 2021 and December 2022. India has been a non-permanent member of the UNSC 8 times (most recently 2021-22) and is a strong contender for permanent membership.
• India’s participation in the Security Council has been as a non-permanent member during the periods 1950-51, 1967-68, 1972-73, 1977-78, 1984-85, 1991-92, 2011-12 and 2021-22.