Kyrgyzstan elected to UN Security Council for first time

Kyrgyzstan has been elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2027–2028 term, marking the first time in the country's history that it will serve on the UN’s most powerful body.

The election took place during a session of the UN General Assembly in New York on June 3. Representing the Asia-Pacific Group, Kyrgyzstan competed against the Philippines for the region’s allocated seat on the Council, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

To secure election, candidates were required to obtain the support of at least two-thirds of UN member states, or 129 votes. After several rounds of voting, Kyrgyzstan reached the required threshold in the fourth round, securing its place on the 15-member Security Council.

Earlier in the day, the General Assembly elected four other non-permanent members for the 2027–2028 term: Austria, Portugal, Zimbabwe, and Trinidad and Tobago. Under the UN’s regional allocation system, five seats were available, with two designated for Western Europe and one each for Asia, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean. The Asia-Pacific seat remained undecided after the initial rounds because neither Kyrgyzstan nor the Philippines received the necessary number of votes.

Among the candidates, Kyrgyzstan was the only country that had never previously served on the Security Council.

Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubayev previously stated that, if elected, Kyrgyzstan would focus on promoting sustainable peace, preventive diplomacy, climate security, the protection of vulnerable groups, and confidence-building among states. The country also intends to advocate for fairer and more inclusive representation within the Security Council.

Membership on the Council will allow Kyrgyzstan to participate directly in decisions on international peace and security, strengthen its diplomatic influence, and advance its interests on the global stage.

By Vugar Khalilov