Kashmir Impulse Desk

New Delhi, June 4

Zimbabwe, Trinidad and Tobago, Kyrgyzstan, Portugal, and Austria have secured seats on the United Nations Security Council after winning elections in the UN General Assembly, with their two-year terms set to begin on January 1, 2027.

The vote delivered a setback to Germany, which failed to win one of the two seats available to the Western European and Others Group despite an intensive diplomatic campaign. Portugal and Austria emerged victorious in the contest, receiving 134 and 131 votes respectively, while Germany fell short with 104 votes.

The most closely watched race unfolded in the Asia-Pacific Group, where Kyrgyzstan and the Philippines competed through four rounds of balloting. Kyrgyzstan eventually crossed the required two-thirds threshold, securing 142 votes against the Philippines’ 49 and earning a place on the council for the first time in its history.

The Security Council, regarded as the UN’s most powerful body, is responsible for maintaining international peace and security.

It has the authority to impose sanctions, approve peacekeeping missions and authorise the use of force.

Five permanent members – China, Russia, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States – hold veto powers, while 10 non-permanent members serve fixed terms.

Under the latest rotation, Zimbabwe will take over from Somalia, Trinidad and Tobago will replace Panama, while Portugal and Austria will succeed Denmark and Greece.

Kyrgyzstan will assume the seat currently held by Pakistan.

The newly elected countries will join Bahrain, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Latvia, and Liberia, whose terms on the council continue through 2027.

In a separate development, the General Assembly elected Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman as president of its 81st session.

He will assume the role when the new session opens in September.