Bahrain is returning to the UN Security Council for the first time in over two decades, elected Tuesday as one of five new nonpermanent members. Its stance on Gaza and ties to Israel put the Gulf state in the spotlight, as the council prepares to vote on a new ceasefire resolution later today that may again face a US veto. 

The five incoming members will begin their two-year terms in January 2026, replacing Algeria, Guyana, South Korea, Sierra Leone and Slovenia, and joining Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama and Somalia, who were elected last year and will serve through 2026. 

The 15-member UNSC also has five permanent members with veto power: China, France, Russia, the UK and the US. While the five permanent members hold veto power, the 10 rotating nonpermanent members often shape the tone and direction of debates. 

This will mark Bahrain’s second tenure on the UN’s highest body. The Gulf country previously held a seat from 1998 to 1999. Bahraini Foreign Affairs Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani said the election outcome “reflects the unwavering trust and confidence member states have placed in Bahrain’s diplomatic efforts.”