UAE elected to UN Security Council

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The UN General Assembly elected UAE, Albania, Brazil, Gabon, and Ghana to the United Nations Security Council on Friday for a two-year term starting on Jan. 1, 2022.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, congratulated the UAE diplomatic missions for achieving the UN status.

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid said on Twitter, “The election of the UAE to the Security Council for the period 2022-2023 reflects its active diplomacy... its international position... and its distinguished development model... All thanks to the Emirati diplomatic team led by Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed... We look forward to an active and positive membership in the UN Security Council.”

Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed said on Twitter, “Today the UN elected the UAE as one of five members to the Security Council for 2022-2023. We pledge that our team of dedicated diplomats will pursue the same spirit of global engagement and collaboration that has guided the UAE since its founding in 1971.”

All five countries ran unopposed for a spot on the 15-member body, which is charged with maintaining international peace and security.

They will replace Estonia, Niger, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia and Vietnam.

To ensure geographical representation, seats are allocated to regional groups. But even if candidates are running unopposed in their group, they still need to win the support of more than two-thirds of the UN General Assembly.

Ghana received 185 votes, Gabon 183 votes, UAE 179 votes, Albania 175 votes and Brazil 181 votes.

The Security Council is the only UN body that can make legally binding decisions like imposing sanctions and authorizing use of force.

It has five permanent veto-wielding members — the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia.