On Tuesday, 3 June 2025, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly will vote on Latvia’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council (UNSC) for the 2026–2027 term.
The vote will take place during the UN General Assembly plenary session in New York, with Minister of Foreign Affairs Baiba Braže attending this milestone event for Latvia. This marks the first time Latvia is seeking a seat on the UN Security Council.
As the minister B. Braže has highlighted several times: “Members of the Security Council, especially the permanent members, are responsible for peace and security, not for breaking rules, blocking solutions. We have to stand by the basic principles we agreed to.”
To be elected, Latvia must secure the support of at least two-thirds of the UN member states – 129 out of 193 votes.
The results are expected to be announced around 18:15 EET on 3 June.
Latvia’s campaign motto: “Together for Peace and Resilience”
Latvia’s Priority Thematic Areas for Participation in the UN Security Council:
- Defend the fundamental principles of international law enshrined in the UN Charter, including a just peace in Ukraine and its territorial integrity.
- Promotion of gender equality.
- Focus on addressing emerging threats such as cybersecurity, disinformation, and the security risks related to artificial intelligence.
- Commitment to enhancing the effectiveness, efficiency, transparency, and accountability of the UN Security Council.
About the UN Security Council
The UN Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations, responsible for maintaining international peace and security. Its decisions, including on sanctions, peacekeeping operations, and the authorisation of military actions, are legally binding for all UN member states.
The Council consists of 15 members:
- 5 permanent members with veto power: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States
- 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms
Each year in June, five non-permanent members are elected. In 2025, the other countries contesting the election are Bahrain, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Liberia.
The distribution of non-permanent seats is based on regional groupings:
- African Group & Asia-Pacific Group – 5 seats
- Latin American and Caribbean Group – 2 seats
- Western European and Others Group – 2 seats
- Eastern European Group – 1 seat
Latvia is running for the Eastern European Group’s single seat.
Latvia’s candidacy reflects a long-standing foreign policy objective and is outlined in the National Development Plan of Latvia 2021–2027.
