The UN General Assembly has a busy year ahead. First, the members have chosen their new president to preside over the 81st General Assembly. Then, the 193 members picked five new non-permanent members to serve on the 15-member Security Council. Later in the year, the full Assembly will choose a new secretary-general to lead the organisation for the next five years.
In early June, the assembly chose between the former Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and the Ambassador of Cyprus, Andreas Kakouris. In a narrow and surprising outcome, Bangladesh won with 99 votes over 91 for Cyprus. Thus, Mr Rahman will replace Germany's Annalena Baerbock, who has skilfully navigated the world body through the UN's 80th year.
Afterwards, the assembly elected five new members to serve two-year terms on the powerful Security Council. The candidates came from regional groups and, as is so often the case, were selected in non-competitive elections.
Sadly, this shortcoming guarantees mediocrity or worse without any chance of opposition.
Based on regional groupings such as Africa, Asia, Latin America/Caribbean and Western Europe, the annual process, however, produced more than the usual political surprises.
It's a diplomatic game of musical chairs for a seat at the decision-making Security Council.
Africa. The sole candidate put forward for the continent was Zimbabwe, an odious regime once led by Robert Mugabe and still ranking among the lowest in civil and human rights standings.
Asia-Pacific. Two countries ran for one seat: Kyrgyzstan and the Philippines. The Philippines was an original member of the UN in 1945; its diplomats, such as Carlos Romulo, were highly respected. The US, Japan and many key East Asian states supported the Philippines, and it was presumed it would win. Kyrgyzstan, a former Soviet republic and a human rights scofflaw, can claim to be the least repressive of the five other former Soviet-stans, but this is hardly a qualification.
But when the ballots were counted, Kyrgyzstan won after four rounds of voting, ultimately prevailing by 142 to 49 over the Philippines, and easily clearing the two-thirds majority in the 193-member Assembly. This will be the first time Kyrgyzstan sits on the Security Council since its UN membership in 1992.
This outcome clearly reflects growing geopolitical tensions in Asia as Kyrgyzstan is close to the Russian/Chinese sphere, which would counterbalance the Philippines, which, as an improving democratic state, is ramping up its partnership with the United States, Japan and Australia.
Latin America/Caribbean. The island state of Trinidad and Tobago was selected unopposed with a vote of 181.
Western Europe. Europe's election was the most closely watched as it pitted three friendly and democratic countries against each other for two seats. Portugal, the country of the long-serving Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, was set to win. Austria and Germany competed for the other seat.
Portugal won handily with 134 votes. Surprisingly, so did Austria with 131 votes to Germany's 104.
Germany, which had served six previous council terms, most recently in 2019–2020, lobbied hard for the post. Germany's cyclical participation on the council is a kind of unofficial pro-forma deal, as have Japan, India and Brazil.
Despite being a major UN contributor and global humanitarian donor, Germany lost. This setback marks the first time that Germany has failed in a bid for a non-permanent seat on the council.
Some diplomats suggest the result reflects Germany's Nato membership and its support of Ukraine and Israel. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul described the result as "a real disappointment" and a "bitter defeat."
Without question, Austria is a proud democracy and is totally qualified for the post. But one must note that Austria is legally neutral, and thus not a Nato member, and let's say, a "bit more nuanced" on its Mideast policies, to say the least. Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger commented, "Austria is back at the table where decisions on peace, security and stability are made."
The five countries shall replace Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama and Somalia at the end of 2026.
In the meantime, the council still faces a decade-plus diplomatic logjam that hinders its effectiveness.
John J Metzler is a United Nations correspondent covering diplomatic and defence issues. He is the author of 'Divided Dynamism: The Diplomacy of Separated Nations; Germany, Korea, China'.
