Pakistan’s two-year tenure as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has concluded, drawing renewed attention to the functioning of the world’s most powerful diplomatic body. While some nations occupy permanent seats on the Security Council, others serve for fixed terms. This raises questions about why non-permanent members serve only two-year terms and how the UN’s governing framework operates.
Despite the United Nations comprising 193 member states, the Security Council—the body tasked with maintaining international peace and security—has only 15 members. Of these, five countries—the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China—hold permanent seats. These nations were the principal Allied powers that emerged victorious from World War II and played a pivotal role in founding the United Nations in 1945. Consequently, they were granted permanent representation on the Security Council and are not subject to periodic elections.
A key privilege enjoyed by these five permanent members is the veto power. Under the UN Charter, substantive Security Council resolutions require the support of at least nine members, including the concurrence of all five permanent members. As a result, even if the remaining 14 members vote in favor of a resolution, a single veto cast by any one of the permanent members is sufficient to block its adoption. Russia and China, in particular, have frequently exercised their veto authority on issues they oppose, including matters involving India and resolutions affecting their strategic interests.