Kyrgyzstan wins seat on UN Security Council for first time ever

Peace under pressure

The incoming members will take their seats at a moment when the Council faces some of its most difficult tests in years.

Its work has increasingly been shaped by geopolitical rivalries among major powers, particularly the five permanent members.

Deep divisions over conflicts including Ukraine and Gaza have led to stalemate, frustrating action, while the use of vetoes has at times prevented agreement on resolutions addressing major crises.

Growing calls for reform

The Council has also faced mounting calls for reform, with UN and world leaders arguing that its composition no longer reflects contemporary geopolitical realities.

Secretary-General António Guterres has repeatedly warned that international institutions remain “stuck in the world as it was in 1945, not the world of today,” including the Security Council itself.

African countries have been among the strongest advocates for change, arguing that a continent of 54 Member States remains underrepresented in the Council’s permanent decision-making structures. Calls for expanded representation from developing countries overall have also grown louder.

The question of veto

The veto power – which allows any permanent member to block Council action regardless of broader support – has also come under increasing scrutiny.

Since 2022, a General Assembly mandate requires the Assembly to meet whenever a veto is cast in the Security Council, giving the wider UN membership an opportunity to examine and debate its use.

While non-permanent members do not possess veto power, they can play an influential role in shaping negotiations, building coalitions and advancing issues of concern to their regions and the wider international community.

What the Security Council does

Established under the UN Charter, the Security Council bears primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.

Unlike General Assembly resolutions, which are generally non-binding, Security Council decisions adopted under the Charter can carry legal force for all UN Member States.

The Council has the authority to impose sanctions, authorize peacekeeping missions, establish international tribunals and, in exceptional circumstances, authorize the use of force.

Closed doors

Much of the Council’s work takes place around its iconic horseshoe-shaped table in the Security Council Chamber at UN Headquarters, in New York.

While public meetings often attract global attention, many of the Council’s most consequential discussions take place behind closed doors in consultations and negotiations among its members.