History was made on Wednesday as Trinidad and Tobago secured one of five non-permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council.
At the UN headquarters in New York, T&T emerged successful in a field of seven contenders vying for the available seats, earning 181 of 191 votes, surpassing the two-thirds minimum vote required.
President of the United Nations General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock, made the announcement: “Number of votes obtained: Trinidad and Tobago 181, Guyana one. Having obtained the required two thirds majority and the largest number of votes, Austria, Portugal, Trinidad and Tobago and Zimbabwe are elected members of the Security Council for a two-year term beginning on January 1st, 2027.”
Speaking after the election, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Sean Sobers expressed humility and pride as he outlined what the government hopes to achieve during its two-year stint on the Council.
“We pledge to foster dialogue and bridge differences amidst the multiplicity of complex challenges confronting the international community. Specifically, during our tenure, we will place particular emphasis on advancing the women and children on the peace and security agenda, addressing the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons, and examining the implications of artificial intelligence for international peace and security.”
Minister Sobers added that T&T is prepared and ready to serve by adopting a balanced, principled, and pragmatic approach to ensure a more peaceful, secure and just world.
“The Honourable Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar has instructed that we use our tenure on the United Nations Security Council to champion issues, the voices, and aspirations of all people, and more importantly, to amplify the unheard voices to ensure that justice and equality anchor lasting security.”
There are ten non-permanent seats on the Council, five of which are up for election every year.
The ten non-permanent members sit on the Council alongside China, Russia, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States. These five countries are permanent members of the Council and any of them can veto a resolution.
While non-permanent members cannot veto resolutions, they play a crucial role in shaping discussions, proposing initiatives, and representing regional interests.
The other countries winning non-permanent seats are Zimbabwe, Portugal, Austria and Kyrgyzstan.