By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS- Bahrain, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Latvia and Liberia on Friday have begun two-year terms as non-permanent members of the UNSC, replaced Algeria, Guyana, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone and Slovenia, whose terms ended last month.
They joined the other P5 China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States and other non permanent members – Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama and Somalia who will serve through the end of 2026.
The P5, as permanent members are called, hold veto power, allowing any one of them to block the adoption of a substantive resolution, regardless of majority support.
Under the UN Charter, the Security Council has primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. It is the only UN body whose decisions are legally binding on all Member States.
It can investigate disputes, urge parties to resolve conflicts, impose sanctions, authorize peacekeeping operations and – in exceptional circumstances approve the use of force. Its resolutions shape international responses to armed conflicts, terrorism and nuclear proliferation.
The Council’s work unfolds both in public and behind closed doors: open meetings allow Member States, the media and the public, access to debates and briefings, while closed consultations give diplomats space to negotiate sensitive issues privately.
The Council has a calendar of meetings but can also convene emergency sessions at short notice.
Non-permanent members are elected annually by the 193-member General Assembly through a secret ballot.
Seats are allocated by regional group, and candidates must secure a two-thirds majority to win election.
Membership involves considerable costs, covering meetings, travel, logistics and staff.
More than 50 UN Member States have never served, underscored the significance and capital involved in occupying a seat – Latvia makes history this January, joining for the first time.
Countries that are not Council members may take part in discussions without a vote when their interests are affected or when they are party to a dispute under consideration.
The new members take their seats after growing geopolitical divisions, with deep disagreements over conflicts such as Ukraine and the Middle East increasingly limiting unified action.
This deadlock is reflected in the growing use of the veto.
The vetoes were rare in the years following the end of the Cold War, often numbering one or two per year and sometimes none at all.
Since the mid-2010s, hands have been raised inside the chamber more often: seven times in 2023 and 8 in 2024.
The delegates often point to this trend as evidence of widening geopolitical rifts, which have made consensus harder to achieve and limited the Council’s ability to respond decisively.
Council member serves as President, a role that rotates in English alphabetical order among the 15 members.
Somalia takes the presidency of the Security Council for the month of January.
The Presidency sets the programme of work, chairs meetings and issues statements on behalf of the Council.
It is a role described as “wearing two hats”: acting both as a neutral facilitator for the Council as a whole and as a representative of their own national government.
They saw 2025 with escalating warfare and shrinking resources, 2026 will test whether members can help build momentum and open space for decisive action, in a body increasingly shaped by entrenched positions.
