On 3 June 2025 at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly there was the possibility of electing five new non-permanent member seats. The seats available for this election are allocated to different regions of the world in the following manner: two seats for the African Group, one seat for the Asia-Pacific Group, one seat for the Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC, currently held by Guyana), and one seat for the Eastern European Group. The GRULAC group have two non-permanent seats, with an election for one every year. There are five permanent member states, these are the UK, USA, Russia, France and China.
At the 79th session, Colombia was elected unopposed to a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council (UNSC), elected by 180 countries with eight abstentions. Its period of office will be from 1 January 2026 and until 31 December 2027.
Colombia campaigned for this seat with the slogan “Experience in Building Peace,” highlighting the country’s 2016 Peace Accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and defining peacebuilding as a central pilar of its foreign policy.
In a post on X, Colombian Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia stated that the election results were a “recognition of Colombia’s diplomatic leadership and the work of President Gustavo Petro in strengthening our foreign policy.”
Colombia recognised transitional justice as fundamental to peacebuilding by providing accountability, justice, truth, reparations, and guarantees of non-repetition for victims.
Colombia as a member of the UNSC is keen to share its experience in conflict resolution and peace building, and within that process prioritising women, peace and security; youth, peace and security; human rights; and climate, peace and security.
Colombia highlighted the importance of inclusive and participatory peace processes emphasising dialogue, inclusion, and trust-building as central to a stable and just peace and offering this as a successful model for other countries seeking to exit a conflict. Furthermore, Colombia highlighted the central role that women play in negotiations, the implementation of Peace Accords and conflict resolution.
Colombia depicts itself as a firm advocate of international law and the principles of the UN Charter, which it considers foundational to peaceful coexistence and respect for diversity among peoples.
Colombia promoted in its campaign its commitment to multilateralism and diplomacy, in line with the “Pacific Settlement of Disputes” (Chapter VI Art 33 ) of the UN Charter which states “The parties to any dispute, the continuance of which is likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security, shall, first of all, seek a solution by negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, resort to regional agencies or arrangements, or other peaceful means of their own choice.”