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On Tuesday, June 4, 2025, the United Nations General Assembly elected five new non-permanent members to the UN Security Council for a two-year term starting January 1, 2026. The countries elected were Bahrain, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Latvia, and Liberia. These nations will replace Algeria, Sierra Leone, South Korea, Guyana, and Slovenia, whose terms will end on December 31, 2025.
The elections took place during the 79th session of the General Assembly, and all five countries were running on uncontested slates within their respective regional groups. Despite this, each candidate was still required to secure a two-thirds majority of votes from the 193-member Assembly to be successfully elected.
Voting Results Reflect Strong Support
All five elected countries received well over the required two-thirds of the votes:
- Bahrain – 186 votes
- Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) – 183 votes
- Liberia – 181 votes
- Colombia – 180 votes
- Latvia – 178 votes
These results reflect widespread support for the incoming members, who are expected to play important roles in shaping international peace and security efforts over the next two years.
Security Council Composition and Powers
The UN Security Council is composed of 15 members: five permanent members and ten elected non-permanent members. The five permanent members – China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States – hold veto power, meaning any one of them can block substantive resolutions.
The ten non-permanent members serve staggered two-year terms, with elections held annually for five of the seats. These members do not have veto power but still play a vital role in deliberations, resolutions, and decisions regarding international peace, conflict resolution, sanctions, and authorizations of military action.
Geographical Rotation Ensures Global Representation
To maintain fair and balanced representation from all parts of the world, non-permanent seats are allocated based on regional groups:
- Africa
- Asia-Pacific
- Latin America and the Caribbean
- Western Europe and Others
- Eastern Europe
This geographic distribution ensures that the Council reflects a broader spectrum of the UN membership and global perspectives. For this election:
- Bahrain represents the Asia-Pacific group.
- Colombia represents Latin America and the Caribbean.
- DRC and Liberia represent Africa.
- Latvia represents Eastern Europe.
Incoming Members Face Global Challenges
The newly elected members will begin their terms during a time of increasing global tensions, humanitarian crises, and geopolitical shifts. Issues on the Council’s agenda in recent years have included:
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- Conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan
- Climate-related security risks
- Global terrorism and non-state actors
- Post-conflict peacebuilding
- Sanctions regimes and humanitarian access
Their ability to navigate these complex issues and contribute to effective diplomacy will be closely watched by the international community.
Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the General Assembly
In a related development, the General Assembly also elected Annalena Baerbock, Germany’s former foreign minister, as President of its 80th session, which begins in September 2025. Baerbock will oversee the UN’s legislative body during a critical time for multilateral cooperation and diplomatic engagement.
Looking Ahead
With the addition of Bahrain, Colombia, DRC, Latvia, and Liberia, the Security Council for 2026 will have a refreshed composition that aims to bring diverse perspectives to global security debates. Their two-year tenure will offer opportunities to influence key decisions that affect peace and stability worldwide.
As the world faces emerging and persistent threats, the work of the Security Council – and the active participation of its non-permanent members – remains crucial to maintaining international order and upholding the principles of the UN Charter.
