Colombia will serve as a temporary member of the United Nations (UN) Security Council from January 2026 to December 2027.
It was elected alongside four other countries – Liberia, Bahrain, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Latvia – by the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, June 3.
In a post on X, Colombian Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia praised the election as “recognition of Colombia’s diplomatic leadership and the work of President Gustavo Petro in strengthening our foreign policy.”
Colombia’s campaign to sit on the security council used the slogan “Experience Constructing Peace,” highlighting the country’s peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in 2016.
180 countries voted in favour of its bid, while eight nations abstained from the ballot.
Colombia has been outspoken on key international security topics under the Petro administration. These include two of the most pressing issues for the UN Security Council: the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Gaza wars.
In February, Colombia abstained from a resolution that asked Russia to withdraw troops from Ukraine. The president has also been a staunch critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Colombia will represent Latin America and the Caribbean on the 15-member council tasked with maintaining international peace and security.
Every year, five non-permanent members are elected to the council to serve two-year terms.
Colombia will join five non-permanent members elected last year – Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama and Somalia – and five permanent members: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Non-permanent seats are organized into four regional groups: Africa and Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Western Europe and other states.
It will be the eighth time that Colombia is represented on the security council, previously holding a seat in 1947, 1953, 1957, 1969, 1989, 2001 and 2011.
Featured image description: United Nations Security Council meeting
Featured image credit: United Nations via Flickr
