With Russia's war against Ukraine still raging after more than a year, Slovenia picked up overwhelming support from the United Nations General Assembly to sail past Belarus for a seat on the world body's most powerful arm.
The 193-nation assembly's vote on Tuesday gave Slovenia a two-year seat on the U.N. Security Council. Slovenia, a member of the European Union, picked up 153 votes compared to Russian ally Belarus' 38 votes in a secret ballot.
The two nations were competing for a council seat now held by Albania, making for the only contested race among elections for five temporary seats on the 15-nation council.
The election represents a resounding win for values and democracy over authoritarianism, and presents Slovenia with what Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon described as a "unique opportunity" but also a "great responsibility, especially at a time of tectonic geopolitical shifts and divisions."
"I am delighted that Slovenia will actively participate in adopting the most important decisions, as a non-permanent member of this high U.N. body," she said, "and will be the voice of all those countries that seek greater connection and greater understanding."
The other elections were a foregone conclusion since the four candidates – Algeria, Guyana, Sierra Leone and South Korea – were all running uncontested. Guyana won 191 votes; Sierra Leone got 188; Algeria received 184; and South Korea picked up 180.
All six of the candidates for the five temporary seats previously served on the council.
The five new council members will start their 2024-25 stints on Jan. 1, replacing outgoing members Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana and the United Arab Emirates.
Ten of the council seats are held by nations for two-year terms based on geographical representation.
The other five permanent seats – each with veto-wielding rights – are held by China, France, Russia, the United States and the United Kingdom, reflecting a power structure frozen since the end of World War II.
Nations compete by region, so in this year's election the two seats for the African Group and the single seats for the Asia-Pacific Group and the Latin American and Caribbean Group were all uncontested. Only the seat for the Eastern European Group was competitive.
Two-thirds backing needed
The race between Belarus and Slovenia was particularly significant because of the war in Ukraine, deciding which nation should get a key position to influence global policies on peace and security and major crises spanning the globe.
Belarus' U.N. Ambassador Valentin Rybakov had complained that his nation launched its bid for the council seat as far back as 2007, while Slovenia only entered the race in late 2021 after originally planning to run for a 2042-43 seat.
The assembly previously held votes that condemned Russia's expanded invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022; condemnded Russia's announced annex of four Ukrainian regions; blamed Russia for Ukraine's severe humanitarian crisis; and suspended Russia from the Human Rights Council.
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko sided with Russia against Ukraine, allowing Moscow to use his country to launch an expanded invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. He also allowed thousands of Russian troops and even some of Russia's tactical nuclear weapons to be stationed in his country.
By region, three of the 10 temporary seats are given to nations in Africa; two others go to the Asia-Pacific and two are filled by Latin America and the Caribbean. Two go to "Western Europe and Others," and one goes to Eastern Europe.
The elections were held by formal ballot and required a two-thirds majority from nations that were present and voting in the assembly. In last year's elections, Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique and Switzerland all gained seats and ran unopposed.
This is a developing story and has been updated with additional details.
