UNITED NATIONS: The United Arab Emirates, Brazil, Albania, Gabon and Ghana were elected on Friday by the UN General Assembly to be non-permanent members of the Security Council in 2022 and 2023, potentially shifting the power balance within the world body, diplomats said.

“Brazil and the United Arab Emirates have strong positions in foreign policy, and Albania, which will sit on the Council for the first time in its history, is also a member of the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation,” a diplomat said.

The countries will in January succeed Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Vietnam and Estonia, and the shift will change the balance of power within the Security Council, diplomats predicted.

“It will change things”, another diplomat said. “Brazil is a force in itself” and it will replace the smallest country ever to have sat on the council.

As for the Emirates, “they have a role in several conflicts”, the diplomat said, referring to Yemen and Libya. In January, Gabon and Ghana will take seats currently held by Niger and Tunisia.

Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2021