UAE announces candidacy for UN Security Council seat

The United Arab Emirates’ minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation has announced its candidacy for a two-year term on the United Nations Security Council in 2022-2023.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed made the announcement in a statement released on Wednesday September 29, 2020, at the annual UN General Assembly in New York.

“The UAE’s campaign for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council will focus on efforts to advance inclusion, spur innovation, build resilience and secure peace,” he stated

“Voting will take place in June 2021. To ensure global geographical representation, seats are allocated to regions for overlapping two-year terms,” he added.

He explained that candidates need to win the support of more than two-thirds of the UN General Assembly.

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

It has five permanent, veto-wielding members – the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia – among 15 in all.