Five Nations Chosen for 2026-27 UN Security Council Seat

• Bahrain, Colombia, DRC, Latvia, and Liberia elected to the UNSC by the UNGA.
• All appointments were made without any contest.
• Former German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock chosen as UNGA president.

On Tuesday, the United Nations General Assembly elected Bahrain, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Latvia, and Liberia to serve two-year terms on the 15-member UN Security Council starting January 1, 2026.

The Security Council is the only body within the UN that can make binding decisions, such as imposing sanctions and authorizing military action. It consists of five permanent members with veto power: the United Kingdom, China, France, Russia, and the United States.

The remaining ten seats are filled through elections, with five new members joining each year. Bahrain, Colombia, the DRC, Latvia, and Liberia—elected without opposition—will take over from Algeria, Sierra Leone, South Korea, Guyana, and Slovenia.

To maintain geographical balance, seats are distributed among regional groups. However, even uncontested candidates must secure over two-thirds of the votes from the General Assembly.

Bahrain garnered 186 votes, while the DRC received 183, Liberia got 181, Colombia had 180, and Latvia secured 178 votes.

Additionally, the General Assembly selected former German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock as president for its 80th session, which will commence in September.