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NEW YORK CITY: The UN General Assembly on Tuesday elected Bahrain to serve as a nonpermanent member of the UN Security Council for the term 2026-2027.

The country was elected alongside Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Latvia and Liberia, all of which will serve two-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2026.

The 15-member Security Council, which is responsible for maintaining international peace and security, consists of five permanent members — China, France, Russia, the UK and the US — plus 10 nonpermanent members elected by the General Assembly to serve staggered, two-year terms. The newly elected nations will therefore join five existing nonpermanent members whose terms conclude at the end of 2026: Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama and Somalia.

The elections for nonpermanent members are conducted annually by secret ballot, with the seats distributed according to regional groupings. Candidates must secure a two-thirds majority of votes from the 193-member General Assembly to be elected.

Bahrain’s election was said to reflect the Gulf state’s expanding diplomatic profile and signal its readiness to contribute to efforts to address global and regional security challenges.

Following the announcement, the country’s foreign minister, Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani, expressed his gratitude and emphasized the commitment of his country to the goals of the UN.

“The results of today’s election reflect the unwavering trust and confidence member states have placed in Bahrain’s diplomatic efforts, underscoring our steadfast commitment to fostering peace, stability and collaboration on the global stage,” he told reporters in New York.

He thanked the leadership of Bahrain, including King Hamad and Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad, and the people of the country for their support, and said Bahrain aims to promote the values of dialogue, coexistence, mutual respect and consensus-building during its stint as a member of the Security Council.

“We will continue to be a voice for peace, a bridge for understanding and an advocate for solutions that resonate with the aspirations of all peoples seeking a peaceful and prosperous future,” Alzayani said.

Asked about Bahrain’s approach to regional issues, including Iran’s nuclear program, he reaffirmed his country’s commitment to support for negotiations that aim to achieve peace and security.

“The region seeks, and needs, to have peace and security,” Alzayani said. “We will work towards supporting successful negotiations and talks happening right now with the support and coordination of countries in the region.”

Bahrain envisions a region free of nuclear weapons, in which peoples of all religions and sects can live side by side in peace and prosperity, he added.

On the specific issue of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, Alzayani stressed that his country remains dedicated to the pursuit of a two-state solution.

“Our priority is peace,” he said. “We firmly believe that the cornerstone for achieving peace in the region is resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.”

He called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages and detainees, and humanitarian access to the territory. He also called for all parties to work toward a two-state solution that includes “a secured Israel and a viable Palestinian state.”

Bahrain will continue its diplomatic efforts to increase international recognition of Palestine and support the upcoming summit on the implementation of the two-state solution that will be co-chaired by ������Ƶ and France, he added.

“If the world unites in supporting a peaceful, political, diplomatic solution, it will be a great gift for humanity,” Alzayani said.