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On 3 June 2025, with broad support from the United Nations member states, Latvia was elected to the United Nations Security Council for the first time in its history (2026–2027). The main goal of membership in the UN Security Council is to strengthen Latvia's security, including by supporting Ukraine.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže, was present in person at the vote in the plenary session of the UN General Assembly: “This is a historic day and occasion for Latvia – we have been elected to the UN Security Council for the first time. Let me thank all the diplomats, the foreign service and allies for their dedicated and committed work over many years. Satisfaction with and gratitude for the broad support for Latvia’s candidacy – 178 out of the 188 countries taking part in the vote voted for us, with 10 countries abstaining.
Membership of the UN Security Council is the most direct contribution to strengthening Latvia’s security and sovereignty – the council takes decisions legally binding for all UN member states on the enforcement of sanctions, military action and peacekeeping. We have used the time of our candidacy in a targeted manner to raise Latvia’s profile and deepen diplomatic relations – especially non-EU and non-NATO countries. Also, especially after Russia’s war of aggression launched against Ukraine on 24 February 2022, we have used every opportunity to explain the true causes of the war and refute Russian disinformation.
We shall work on the UN Security Council to help achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, the Middle East and other conflict regions, to strengthen global security, safeguard the international rules-based order in line with the UN Charter, and make the work of the UN Security Council more effective.”
To be elected to the UN Security Council, the candidates had to secure support from at least two-thirds of the UN member states – 129 out of 193 votes. 178 of the 188 countries taking part in the election voted for us, and 10 countries abstained. Latvia will begin its term on the UN Security Council on 1 January 2026 and complete it on 31 December 2027.
Latvia has set the following priority thematic areas for its membership of the UN Security Council: (1) defend the fundamental principles of international law enshrined in the UN Charter, including to achieve a just peace in Ukraine; (2) seek solutions to emerging security threats (including hybrid threats, cyber-attacks, AI-related security risks, disinformation); (3) promote gender equality, stand up for prevention of sexual violence in armed conflicts. A cross-cutting priority for Latvia is the streamlining of the UN Security Council’s work.
Latvia nominated its candidacy for the UN Security Council in 2011. Latvia’s global campaign “Together for Peace and Resilience” launched in 2023 has made it possible to explain the position of Latvia and our allies on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the violations of international law and disinformation through reaching out to countries all over the world, including in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, beyond the usual bilateral, multilateral and international formats such as the EU, NATO. It has succeeded in expanding Latvia’s diplomatic cooperation network and strengthening ties with strategic allies – the USA, the United Kingdom, France, and others. The participation of Latvian businesses in UN processes and procurements has also been promoted: for example, in 2023 Latvian companies sold goods and services worth USD 12.5 million to the UN and its agencies.
Bahrain, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Liberia were also elected to serve on the UN Security Council for a two-year term (2026–2027) alongside Latvia.
Foreign Minister Baiba Braže discussed cooperation in the UN Security Council with the foreign ministers of those countries. While in New York, Baiba Braže also met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the newly elected President of the General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock, to discuss Latvia’s priorities for its work on the UN Security Council, the global fallout from Russia’s aggression war of aggression against Ukraine, and the envisaged UN reforms.
