Australia launches bid for UN Security Council seat from 2029

Australia will bid for a seat on the United Nations Security Council from 2029, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said, launching a campaign for one of two non-permanent seats allocated to its regional group.

Speaking in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Albanese said Australia could play a key role in shaping international responses to issues affecting Australians if elected, Caliber.Az reports, citing British media.

"Australia punches above our weight ... and we can have an impact on the world," he told reporters.

Albanese said he expected "very strong support" from Pacific island nations and Southeast Asian countries, adding that his relationships with world leaders would support Australia's campaign.

He said rapid advances in artificial intelligence and the effects of climate change would be among the world's major challenges by the end of the decade, making Australia's participation in the Security Council a national interest.

Australia last served a two-year term on the council, which ended in 2014.

Finland is the other nominee alongside Australia for the 2029-30 seat from the Western European and Others Group. Other regional groups, including Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean, will also put forward candidates.

A vote to elect the non-permanent members for the 2029-30 term is expected to take place by secret ballot in 2028.

The Security Council has 10 non-permanent members, with five elected each year. The United States, China, France, Russia and the United Kingdom are its five permanent members.

By Aghakazim Guliyev