Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Somalia and Panama Confirmed for UN Security Council Non-Permanent Seats
Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Somalia, and Panama are slated to serve as non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council for the 2025–2026 term. This culmination follows a General Assembly decision within the world body. The Security Council comprises fifteen member states, of which five are elected each year to fill alternating seats. To win a non-permanent seat, a candidate must secure at least two thirds of the votes cast by member states present at the relevant General Assembly meeting.
As these five nations assume their roles, they will replace Switzerland, Malta, Japan, Ecuador, and Mozambique. Their term on the Security Council will conclude at the end of December of the designated year. The rotation ensures a balance of regional representation and varied perspectives on international security matters.
Beyond these changes, the broader functioning of the Security Council has been a topic of ongoing discussion. The secretary-general has highlighted a need for reforms in both structure and working methods to better address contemporary global conflicts. This call for improvement reflects growing concerns that the current framework may struggle to prevent escalations in flashpoint regions and to respond swiftly to humanitarian crises. The emphasis has been on increasing efficiency, transparency, and accountability within the council’s processes, while preserving its essential mandate to maintain international peace and security.
Separately, discussions about veto power and governance reforms have continued among member states. Notable voices have urged reconsideration of veto usage to enable quicker, more effective responses to rapidly unfolding crises. Proponents argue that revisiting the veto framework could reduce gridlock and help the council act in the best interests of global stability, while opponents caution that any change must preserve sovereignty and the consensus-building ethos of international diplomacy.