Austria, Portugal, Trinidad and Tobago, and Zimbabwe have been elected as non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, securing two-year terms that will commence on January 1, 2027.
The United Nations General Assembly conducted the elections on Wednesday. A fifth seat remained contested in a subsequent round of voting, with the Philippines and Kyrgyzstan vying for the position.
In the contest for two seats allocated to the Western European and Others Group, Portugal received 134 votes and Austria garnered 131. Germany, which had actively sought a position, secured 104 votes. These elected members will replace Denmark and Greece.
Zimbabwe will fill the seat vacated by Somalia, while Trinidad and Tobago will succeed Panama. The Philippines and Kyrgyzstan are competing to replace Pakistan on the council. The Security Council, composed of 15 members, is the primary UN body authorized to make legally binding decisions, including the imposition of sanctions and authorization of military force. Its permanent members are Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States. The remaining ten non-permanent members are elected for two-year terms, with five new members joining annually.
