Situation Report: UAE among 5 nations elected to UN Security Council

On June 11, the UN General Assembly named the United Arab Emirates, Albania, Brazil, Gabon and Ghana to serve on the United Nations Security Council beginning in January 2022. The 5 countries ran unopposed within their regional groups and acquired the votes of at least two-thirds of the member states. The countries voted in will join the 5-permanent veto-wielding members of the Security Council- the U.S., Russia, France, United Kingdom and China.

Following the UAE’s election into the Council, the Crown Prince of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, tweeted that the UAE “pledge that our team of dedicated diplomats will pursue the same spirit of global engagement and collaboration that has guided the UAE since its founding in 1971.”

The Security Council defines itself as a 15-member body responsible for upholding international peace and security. Historically, the international body has been accused of maintaining a hostile and biased approach to Israel. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) notes that the “UN’s record and culture continue to demonstrate a predisposition against Israel.” 

The UAE’s inclusion in the Security Council is a significant achievement for the Gulf country that has made peace with Israel. In August 2020, Israel and the UAE established full diplomatic ties. In this historic U.S.-brokered deal, the UAE became the third Arab country, following Egypt and Jordan, to officially normalize ties with Israel.

The UAE has positioned itself to play the role of peacekeeper in the Middle East. In addition to signing the 2020 Abraham Accords, the UAE helped mediate the Ethiopia-Eritrea peace deal in 2018. The Gulf country also confirmed its intention to mediate a peace agreement between the nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan in 2021. The UAE has advocated for moderation in the Middle East, separating itself from the extremist proxies backed by Turkey and Iran. With its ties to its Gulf neighbors, Israel and Egypt, the UAE can play a pivotal role in maintaining stability in the region.