United Nations Security Council Election Results and Composition

On June 6, 2024, the United Nations General Assembly convened to elect new non-permanent members to the UN Security Council. Pakistan, Somalia, Panama, Denmark, and Greece secured seats for a two-year term starting January 1, 2025, replacing Japan, Malta, Mozambique, Ecuador, and Switzerland. These newly elected members will join Algeria, Guyana, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, and Slovenia as the other non-permanent members.

Security Council Composition

The UN Security Council comprises 15 members, with five permanent members possessing veto power: the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China. The 10 non-permanent members are elected for two-year terms without veto power.

Regional Representation

The non-permanent members are distributed among four regional groups: Africa and Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Western Europe and other States. Pakistan and Somalia were elected from the African and Asian groups, Panama from Latin America and the Caribbean, while Denmark and Greece secured seats representing Western Europe and other states.

Election Process

To be elected, a country needs the votes of at least two-thirds of the UN member countries present and voting. Elections are held annually, and the term of the newly elected members begins on January 1 of the following year. Non-member Observer States like Palestine and the Holy See are not eligible to participate in these elections.

India’s History with the Security Council

India has served eight terms as a non-permanent member of the Security Council: in 1950-1951, 1967-1968, 1972-1973, 1977-1978, 1984-1985, 1991-1992, 2011-2012, and 2021-2022.

United Nations Overview

Established on October 24, 1945, the United Nations is an international organization comprising 193 member countries, headquartered in New York, United States. Antonio Guterres serves as the Secretary-General.