PH calls for support in bid to gain UN Security Council seat

THE Philippines is calling on its fellow members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to support its bid for a seat in the powerful United Nations (UN) Security Council for the term 2027-2028.

Speaking at the recent 19th NAM Summit held in Kampala, Uganda, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo appealed for support from other nations for the Philippines to get that non-permanent seat.

“We bring these values as we aim for a non-permanent membership seat in the UN Security Council for the term 2027-2028,” said Manalo.

“We look forward to the support of NAM Members for our candidature,” he added.

Under the UN Charter, its Security Council shall consist of 15 members of the United Nations.

The 15 members will be composed of five permanent members with veto power, namely, China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America; and 10 non-permanent members, which are elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms.

In gaining a UN seat, Manalo said the Philippines aims to bring the values of NAM as seen in the unanimous adoption of the Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of Disputes in 1982.

“This brought forward an important principle in the United Nations Charter, namely that aggression and use of force have no place in resolving disputes,” he said.

“The Philippines will remain a vanguard of the Charter and international law,” added Manalo.

Manalo attended the 19th Summit of the NAM in Kampala, Uganda last January 19.