The Philippines fell short in its bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations (UN) Security Council, losing to Kyrgyzstan in a closely watched vote on Wednesday that expanded the body’s incoming class of elected members.
Kyrgyzstan secured its first-ever seat on the 15-member council after a fourth round of voting in the Asia-Pacific Group, defeating the Philippines by 142 votes to 49, according to results announced at UN headquarters. The two countries had failed to reach the required two-thirds majority in earlier rounds.
Alongside Kyrgyzstan, Zimbabwe, Austria, Portugal and Trinidad and Tobago were elected as new non-permanent members of the council, which is empowered to adopt legally binding resolutions, including sanctions, authorization of military action and deployment of peacekeeping missions.
Zimbabwe will replace Somalia, Trinidad and Tobago will succeed Panama, Portugal and Austria will take seats currently held by Denmark and Greece, and Kyrgyzstan will replace Pakistan.
The United Nations Security Council is composed of 15 members — five permanent members with veto power and 10 non-permanent members elected for staggered two-year terms. The permanent members are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The remaining non-permanent members continuing their terms until the end of 2027 are Bahrain, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Latvia and Liberia.
Each year, five non-permanent seats are filled, distributed among regional groups, including Africa, the Asia-Pacific region, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Western European and others.
The Philippines had campaigned for a seat, with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. personally making a pitch in March, highlighting the country’s long-standing partnership with the United Nations, its contributions to peacekeeping operations and its advocacy for what he called “principled peace.”
Marcos had expressed confidence in the country’s candidacy, citing its “very strong record” within the UN system and its role in advancing global issues beyond national interest.
