(Markuss Kozlinskis/JBANC) — On June 3, Latvia won election to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), securing a non-permanent seat for the 2026–2027 term. Latvia received 178 votes – well above the 129 needed for a two-thirds majority of the 193 UN members. This marks Latvia’s first time on the Council, following in the footsteps of its Baltic neighbors Estonia (2020–2021) and Lithuania (2014–2015).
With respect to Latvia’s successful campaign, the country’s path to the Security Council was years in the making. The Latvian government officially announced its candidacy for the 2026–2027 term as early as 2011. Planning such a campaign so early is common practice among aspiring Council members, as it increases the chances of running in an uncontested election and gives sufficient time for diplomats to gather the necessary votes.[1] Notably, at the time of Latvia’s announcement, no other country from the Eastern European Group (EEG) had formally declared its candidacy for the 2025 election, suggesting a potentially uncontested path. However, this changed in 2013, when Montenegro officially announced its intention to run for the same seat at the UN General Assembly.[2] While Montenegro had submitted its candidacy 2.5 years earlier than Latvia,[3] it had not publicly declared its bid until then, subsequently turning the race into a contested election between EEG members.
While Latvia spent the first years building relationships and seeking endorsements with countries inside and outside of EU and NATO circles, formal campaigning ramped up only in November of 2023, when Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs formally launched Latvia’s campaign at the UN in New York, unveiling the campaign’s motto “Together for Peace and Resilience” and its “three main directions: the rule of law and democracy, the promotion of women’s rights, and solutions for security, sustainability, and development.”[4] As noted by the Centre for International Studies in Latvia, such a choice of policy directions that are high on the international agenda across the globe made Latvia well-positioned to engage with countries from different regions, also escaping the risk of being perceived as only caring about their region or one specific issue.[5] Furthermore, Latvia also used the campaign to clearly communicate its positions on Russia’s war in Ukraine and the defense of international law to its allies and global partners.[6] The campaign also opened new channels for Latvian businesses with record engagement in UN procurement processes.[7]
As elections were approaching at the end of January 2025, Montenegro unexpectedly informed Latvia, that due to their focus on joining the European Union, the Balkan state had chosen to rescind its candidacy for UNSC seat.[8] While running an uncontested election certainly helped to secure the victory, years of diligent work by the Latvian diplomatic corps, especially Latvia’s mission to the UN should not be undervalued. Since 1991, when Latvia became a UN member, it has steadily built a reputation as a consistent and trusted partner within the multilateral system. Over the years, Latvia has actively contributed to such key UN bodies as the Human Rights Council, the International Law Commission, Economic and Social Council, the Executive Board of UN Women, as well as its participation in peacekeeping operations in Mali and Lebanon.[9] Notably, Latvia has also led global efforts to combat misinformation and disinformation, launching the first cross-regional statement on “infodemia” during COVID-19 in 2020 as well as initiating the UN’s first resolution on media and information literacy in 2021.[10] These long-standing contributions helped establish Latvia’s credibility and global standing, which ultimately translated into strong support for its Council bid.
By earning a non-permanent seat at the UNSC, Latvia will be placed at the center of international peace and security decision-making next year. Notably, UNSC decisions (for instance, imposing sanctions, authorizing peacekeeping missions, or approving military action) are legally binding upon all member states. As one of 15 Council members (more specifically, one of ten non-permanent members elected for two years), Latvia will have an equal vote on these critical matters alongside the powerful permanent five members (P5) – the United States, United Kingdom, France, China, and Russia. Furthermore, all Council members serve as president of the Council for one month during their term, allowing even small states like Latvia to shape the agenda and lead the Council’s response to emerging crises.
In preparation for the Council elections and prospective membership this year, Latvia further defined a clear set of thematic priority areas for its Council tenure. According to a publication by the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs,[11] during its Council tenure, Latvia will: (1) defend the fundamental principles of international law enshrined in the UN Charter, including to achieve a just peace in Ukraine; (2) promote gender equality, stand up for prevention of sexual violence in armed conflicts; (3) seek solutions to emerging security threats (including hybrid threats, cyber-attacks, AI-related security risks, disinformation); (4) commit to enhancing the effectiveness, efficiency, transparency, and accountability of the UN Security Council.
At the same time, Latvia’s ambition to contribute meaningfully to global peace and security must contend with the institutional limitations of the Council itself. More specifically, it is no secret that the UNSC and the broader UN system are often criticised for their inability to act decisively in the face of major crises. This is largely due to the veto power held by the P5, which allows them to block substantive resolutions even in cases of mass atrocities or clear violations of international law. Moreover, these crises are frequently committed by the P5 members themselves. Accordingly, with the priority of advancing just peace for Ukraine, Latvia will inevitably face challenges with permanent member and persistent aggressor Russia.
Nevertheless, the experiences of Estonian and Lithuanian membership highlight that even small states are capable of (1) keeping the Russo-Ukrainian war on the Council’s agenda as well as (2) advancing their priorities in less contested thematic areas.
During its 2014–2015 term on the UN Security Council, Lithuania was instrumental in putting the Russo-Ukrainian war at the center of the Council’s focus by initiating the first official Council meeting on the conflict and forming a like-minded UN member group, “Friends of Ukraine.”[12] Lithuania also made strategic use of its Council presidencies to draw attention to Russia’s actions in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine, highlighting the human rights violations committed by the aggressor.[13] Beyond that, Lithuania also advanced less contested issues by successfully leading resolutions and statements concerning the protection of journalists, small arms control, and EU–UN cooperation.[14]
Similarly, Estonia, during its 2020–2021 Council membership, also succeeded in keeping the Russo-Ukrainian war and broader regional security issues on the Council’s agenda. More specifically, it used both formal and informal tools (particularly informal Council meetings and thematic debates) to highlight Russia’s unlawful actions in Ukraine and Georgia, as well as to address the 2020 fraudulent election in Belarus.[15] Moreover, Estonia also brought cybersecurity to the Council’s formal agenda for the first time by organising the inaugural official meeting on the issue, as well as promoted women’s rights during the Afghanistan crisis and supported efforts to protect children in armed conflict.[16] The experiences of Latvia’s Baltic neighbors indicate, that despite size and institutional limitations, Latvia can still influence the Council’s agenda, amplify Ukraine’s cause, and advance its global priorities at the Council.
To conclude, by being elected as a non-permanent member of the UNSC for the first time, Latvia can build on the impressive achievements of its 14-year campaign and the momentum created by Lithuania and Estonia. With this foundation, the real opportunity only begins: to advance its thematic focus priorities, contribute to global and regional peace, and strengthen its voice on the international stage.
[1] Gunda Reire, Aija Lulle, Ance Baura, and Markuss Kozlinskis, E10 & UNSC: 12 Rules for Campaigning and Membership (Riga: Center for International Studies, Latvia, October 2024), p. 8-9.
[2] See above, p. 37.
[3] “Latvia Remains the Sole Candidate from the Eastern European Group for a Seat on the UN Security Council [Latvija palikusi vienīgā kandidāte no Austrumeiropas valstu grupas uz vietu ANO Drošības padomē],” Latvian Public Media, last modified April 23, 2025, https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/arzemes/23.04.2025-latvija-palikusi-vieniga-kandidate-no-austrumeiropas-valstu-grupas-uz-vietu-ano-drosibas-padome.a596424.
[4] See note 1, p. 37.
[5] See note 1, p. 38 .
[6] “With broad support from UN member states, Latvia elected to the UN Security Council (2026–2027) for the first time ever,” Embassy of the Republic of Latvia to the State of Israel, published June 5, 2025, https://www2.mfa.gov.lv/en/israel/current-events/72390-with-broad-support-from-un-member-states-latvia-elected-to-the-un-security-council-2026-2027-for-the-first-time-ever.
[7] See above.
[8] See note 3.
[9] See note 1, p. 38.
[10] “Together for Peace and Resilience Brochure,” p. 4, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, published October 24, 2023, https://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/media/10791/download?attachment.
[11] “Latvia’s Candidacy for the UN Security Council – Election on 3 June,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, published June 2, 2025, https://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/article/vote-latvias-un-security-council-membership-coming-3-june#:~:text=,accountability%C2%A0of%20the%20UN%20Security%20Council.
[12] Supra note 1, p. 21.
[13] Supra note 1, p. 21.
[14] Supra note 1, p. 21; UN Security Council, Statement by the President of the Security Council, S/PRST/2014/4 (Feb. 14, 2014), https://undocs.org/S/PRST/2014/4.
[15] “Estonia in the Security Council: the first year,” Permanent Mission of Estonia to the UN, accessed June 16, 2025, https://un.mfa.ee/estonia-in-the-security-council-the-first-year.
[16] See above.
