Five New Nations Join UN Security Council Amid Geopolitical Tensions

New Faces in the UN Security Council

Starting in January, five new countries will take their seats around the emblematic crescent-shaped table of the UN Security Council. Bahrain, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Latvia, and Liberia have begun two-year terms as non-permanent members, replacing Algeria, Guyana, South Korea, Sierra Leone, and Slovenia, whose terms ended last month.

These nations join five other non-permanent members – Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama, and Somalia – who will serve until the end of 2026, alongside the five permanent member nations: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The permanent members, known as the P5, hold veto power, allowing any of them to block the adoption of any substantial resolution, regardless of majority support.

Responsibilities of the Security Council

Under the UN Charter, the Security Council has the primary responsibility to maintain international peace and security. It is the only UN body whose decisions are legally binding on all Member States. The Council can investigate disputes, encourage parties to resolve conflicts, impose sanctions, authorize peacekeeping operations, and, in exceptional circumstances, approve the use of force.

Rising Geopolitical Tensions

The new members assume their roles amid rising geopolitical tensions, with fundamental disagreements over conflicts such as those in Ukraine and the Middle East increasingly limiting unified action. This situation is reflected in the escalating use of the veto power. Following the end of the Cold War, vetoes were rare—often numbering one or two per year, and sometimes none at all. Since the mid-2010s, however, their use has significantly increased, with seven vetoes raised in 2023 and eight anticipated in 2024.

Somalia Takes the Lead

Each month, a member of the Council serves as President, a role that rotates alphabetically among the 15 members. For January, the presidency is held by Somalia. This position sets the agenda, leads meetings, and issues statements on behalf of the Council. It is a role described as "wearing two hats": acting as a neutral facilitator for the entire Council while also representing its own national government.