The United Nations General Assembly held a secret ballot on Thursday to elect new non-permanent members to the U.N. Security Council. Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama, and Somalia emerged as the chosen countries to serve two-year terms on the council.
The 193-member General Assembly voted to elect five countries to the 15-member Security Council. These non-permanent seats are allocated to regional groups, with this year's selections being uncontested.
Notably, last year's election saw Slovenia defeating Belarus for a seat, reflecting global opposition to Russia's actions in Ukraine. This year, Somalia, Pakistan, Panama, Denmark, and Greece were nominated by their respective regional groups.
The incoming members will commence their terms on January 1, succeeding Mozambique, Japan, Ecuador, Malta, and Switzerland. They will join the five permanent members - the United States, Russia, China, United Kingdom, and France - as well as the five countries elected last year.
The Security Council plays a crucial role in maintaining international peace and security. However, challenges persist, such as Russia's veto power hindering action on Ukraine and the U.S.'s close ties affecting decisions on conflicts like Gaza.
All five countries expected to secure seats have prior experience on the Security Council, with Pakistan having served seven times, Panama five times, Denmark four times, Greece twice, and Somalia once.
There is a widespread consensus that the Security Council requires reform to better represent the current global landscape. However, disagreements on the specifics of this reform have impeded progress for over four decades.
With 193 member states each advocating for their national interests, finding a consensus on expanding and modernizing the Security Council remains a significant challenge.
