UN elects five new non-permanent members to Security Council

Five countries have been elected as non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2027–2028 term following a vote in the UN General Assembly.

The newly elected members are Austria, Kyrgyzstan, Portugal, Trinidad and Tobago and Zimbabwe.

The election was held through a secret ballot during the UN General Assembly session on Wednesday (June 3). The five countries will begin their two-year tenure on January 1, 2027, replacing the outgoing non-permanent members.

In the European group, Austria and Portugal secured seats after defeating Germany in a competitive race. In the Asia-Pacific category, Kyrgyzstan won the seat by overcoming the Philippines. Trinidad and Tobago and Zimbabwe were elected unopposed in their respective regional groups.

The newly elected members will succeed Pakistan, Somalia, Panama, Greece and Denmark, whose terms are set to expire at the end of 2026.

The UN Security Council consists of 15 members—five permanent members with veto power and 10 non-permanent members elected by the General Assembly for staggered two-year terms. Each year, five seats are filled through elections to ensure continuity in the Council’s work on international peace and security.

The election comes a day after Khalilur Rahman was elected President of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, marking a notable diplomatic achievement for Bangladesh. He is scheduled to assume office in September.