UNITED NATIONS, June 3: The United Nations General Assembly elected Austria, Kyrgyzstan, Portugal, Trinidad and Tobago and Zimbabwe to the UN Security Council on Wednesday for two-year terms beginning on January 1, 2027, while Germany failed to secure one of the available seats after a closely contested vote.
UN Security Council election 2026 results
The five countries were chosen by the 193-member General Assembly to serve as non-permanent members of the 15-member Security Council for the 2027-2028 term. The council is the only UN body empowered to adopt legally binding resolutions, including sanctions and authorisations for the use of force.
Austria and Portugal secured the two seats allocated to the Western European and Others Group, receiving 131 and 134 votes respectively. Germany, which had campaigned extensively for a seat, obtained 104 votes and failed to achieve the required two-thirds majority.
Germany misses out on Security Council seat
Germany’s defeat marked a significant diplomatic setback after multiple successful bids for council membership in previous years. Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledged the outcome and congratulated the successful candidates, while German officials indicated that several foreign policy issues may have influenced voting patterns among UN member states.
The contest for the Asia-Pacific seat proved the most competitive. Kyrgyzstan defeated the Philippines after four rounds of voting, securing its first-ever term on the Security Council with 142 votes to 49.
Austria, Portugal, Kyrgyzstan, Trinidad and Tobago and Zimbabwe elected
Zimbabwe was elected to represent the African Group, while Trinidad and Tobago secured the seat allocated to the Latin American and Caribbean Group. Both countries had entered the election as endorsed regional candidates.
The newly elected members will replace Somalia, Panama, Pakistan, Denmark and Greece when their terms expire at the end of 2026. Bahrain, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Latvia and Liberia will remain on the council until the end of 2027.
Role of non-permanent members
The Security Council consists of five permanent members, China, France, Russia, United Kingdom and United States, alongside 10 elected members serving staggered two-year terms. While non-permanent members do not possess veto powers, they participate in debates, votes and agenda-setting on matters relating to international peace and security.
The newly elected countries will assume their seats on January 1, 2027, as the UN Security Council election 2026 reshapes the composition of one of the world’s most influential diplomatic bodies.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, June 5, 2026
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