UNITED NATIONS — Portugal and Austria defeated Germany for seats on the U.N. Security Council on June 3, 2026. In the contested election for two Western European and Others Group seats, Portugal received 134 votes, Austria received 131 votes, and Germany received 104 votes in the 193-member U.N. General Assembly.
The U.N. Security Council is mandated under the U.N. Charter with ensuring international peace and security. It consists of 15 members, including five permanent veto-wielding members—the United States, Russia, China, Britain, and France—and 10 non-permanent seats allocated by region and filled through annual elections.
Five countries are elected each year by secret ballot to serve two-year terms on the Security Council. The newly elected members for the 2027–2028 term are Portugal, Austria, Kyrgyzstan, Zimbabwe, and Trinidad and Tobago. They will assume their seats on January 1, 2027, replacing outgoing members Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama, and Somalia.
Germany had previously served six terms on the Security Council. Its defeat marked the end of its latest campaign for a rotating seat in the Western European and Others Group, a regional grouping whose members compete for two available positions in most election cycles.
Austria’s foreign ministry said its election capped a 15-year campaign and is a “strong international sign of confidence” in the country. The statement reflected Vienna’s sustained diplomatic efforts since its last term on the Council ended in 2010.
Portugal’s successful bid returns it to the Security Council for the first time since its most recent term concluded in 2012. Both Lisbon and Vienna now join a body that plays a central role in authorizing peacekeeping operations, imposing sanctions, and responding to global security crises.
The Security Council’s 2027–2028 membership will include the five newly elected countries alongside Algeria, Guyana, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and the five permanent members.