How did Pakistan get picked to lead the UN Security Council?

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan will take over the presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the month of July 2025.

This role falls within Pakistan’s current two-year tenure as a non-permanent member of the Council, which commenced on at the start of this year.

Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, will lead the Council throughout the month.

He recently met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres to outline the Security Council’s agenda during Pakistan’s presidency.

This marks the eighth time Pakistan has served on the Security Council, having previously held non-permanent membership in 1952–53, 1968–69, 1976–77, 1983–84, 1993–94, 2003–04, and 2012–13.

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The presidency offers Islamabad a platform to steer discussions and spotlight key international issues.

Pakistan is expected to convene at least two open meetings during its presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in July, with indications that it may bring up topics such as Operation Sindoor and the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to a source speaking to The Print, there is a prevailing view within the Indian establishment that Islamabad could use its current seat on the UNSC — where India is not presently represented — to spotlight regional South Asian matters on the global stage, particularly in the context of recent developments following Operation Sindoor.

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During its presidency, Pakistan will also reportedly convene two major high-level signature events. One will focus on multilateralism and the peaceful settlement of disputes, while the second will examine cooperation between the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

How is the UNSC presidency determined?

The presidency of the Security Council rotates monthly among its 15 members, according to Rule 18 of the Security Council’s Provisional Rules of Procedure, which states: “The presidency of the Security Council shall be held in turn by the members of the Security Council in the English alphabetical order of their names. Each President shall hold office for one calendar month.”

This rotation includes both permanent and non-permanent members and follows a fixed alphabetical order to ensure equity.

In 2025, Pakistan’s presidency follows Guyana (June) and precedes Panama (August). Earlier in the year, Algeria (January), China (February), Denmark (March), France (April), and Greece (May) held the presidency.

Later months will see the Republic of Korea (September), the Russian Federation (October), Sierra Leone (November), and Slovenia (December) take on the rotating role.

The monthly presidency allows each Council member, regardless of permanent or elected status, to chair meetings, steer the Council’s agenda, and represent the body publicly.

Although largely procedural in nature, it grants the presiding country notable visibility and agenda-setting influence.

How are UNSC members chosen?

The UNSC is composed of 15 member states: five permanent members (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.

These non-permanent members are chosen by the General Assembly and must secure a two-thirds majority in a secret ballot, in accordance with Rule 83 of the Assembly’s rules of procedure.

Notably, there are no formal nominations, and retiring members are ineligible for immediate re-election as per Rule 144.

The criteria for election to the Security Council include a country’s contribution to the maintenance of international peace and security — often demonstrated through leadership in regional peace initiatives, troop contributions to peacekeeping missions or financial support — as well as equitable geographical distribution, which was formalised through a 1963 amendment to Article 23 of the UN Charter.

That amendment came into force in August 1965 and expanded the number of non-permanent members from six to ten.

As per the General Assembly’s Resolution 1991 A (XVIII), the distribution of non-permanent seats follows this pattern:

• Five from African and Asian states

• One from Eastern European states

• Two from Latin American states

• Two from Western European and other states

An informal agreement ensures that one of the Asian or African seats is always held by an Arab country, alternating between the two regions.

What does the Security Council do?

The Security Council is the UN’s chief organ for international peace and security. It is empowered to make decisions that are binding on all 193 UN member states.

It can impose sanctions, authorise peacekeeping missions and even permit the use of military force to address conflicts.

The Council’s authority stems from Chapter VI and Chapter VII of the UN Charter. Chapter VI encourages peaceful resolution through dialogue, arbitration or mediation, while Chapter VII provides for stronger measures — including coercive sanctions or military intervention — if peaceful means fail.

Over the decades, the Council has dealt with a wide spectrum of global crises: civil wars, nuclear proliferation, humanitarian disasters, terrorism, and more. Yet its effectiveness has increasingly come under scrutiny, particularly when the interests of its five permanent members diverge.

The permanent members, collectively known as the P5, hold veto power — any one of them can block the adoption of any substantive resolution.

This has repeatedly led to stalemates, especially on high-profile matters such as Syria, Ukraine and Palestine. For instance:

• Russia (including during the Soviet era) has used the veto 158 times, making it the most frequent user.

• The United States has used the veto 92 times, including to block a resolution in April 2024 supporting Palestinian statehood.

• China has increasingly exercised its veto rights, often aligning with Russia—more than three-quarters of China’s vetoes have had Russian support.

• France and the UK have not used the veto since 1989 and have called for restraint in its usage.

Despite structural limitations, the Council remains central to multilateral diplomacy. It oversees 11 peacekeeping operations as of 2024, with nearly 100,000 uniformed personnel deployed across three continents.

These missions range from traditional peacekeeping to more robust interventions that include civilian protection, electoral assistance and legal institution-building.

Why aren’t other global powers involved actively in the UNSC?

Criticism of the UNSC’s composition and effectiveness has grown louder in recent years. While the last structural reform occurred in 1965, many argue that the Council no longer reflects today’s geopolitical realities.

Global powers like India, Brazil, Germany, Japan, Nigeria and South Africa have long pushed for a more inclusive Security Council — either through permanent seats or an expansion in elected membership.

There have also been suggestions that France could relinquish its seat in favour of the European Union, particularly after Brexit.

In 2019, France and Germany took the unprecedented step of jointly presiding over the Council for two months. In 2021, the UK publicly supported Germany’s bid for permanent membership.

More recently, in January last year, UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed hope that Africa would receive permanent representation, citing support from each of the five permanent members.

Despite such advocacy, progress remains slow. With every structural change requiring the approval of the current P5 — who are unlikely to dilute their power — UNSC reform continues to be one of the most contentious and unresolved issues in international governance.

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With inputs from agencies