The United Nations General Assembly elected Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama, and Somalia to the U.N. Security Council for two-year terms starting on Jan. 1, 2025. The Security Council is the only U.N. body that can make legally binding decisions such as imposing sanctions and authorizing use of force.
Key Points
The U.N. Security Council is responsible for making legally binding decisions on international peace and security
Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama, and Somalia were elected to the Security Council for two-year terms
Seats on the Security Council are allocated to ensure geographical representation
Pros
Important decisions on international peace and security are made by the U.N. Security Council
Geographical representation is ensured in the allocation of seats
Cons
Candidates need to win support of more than two-thirds of the General Assembly, which can be challenging