Paulo Rangel, speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, emphasized that despite the optimism, efforts for the Portuguese campaign “cannot falter,” and acknowledged the possibility of further trips to New York leading up to the elections.
“I am very confident that Portugal can be elected. The feedback is very positive, but there is obviously one essential issue: We can never be too confident,” he stated.
“Therefore, the campaign work, the presentation of the Portuguese position, and the establishment of relations with all those entitled to vote cannot wane. On the contrary, it must be strengthened,” added the minister.
Portugal is vying for a seat on the Security Council, one of the UN’s most crucial bodies, responsible for maintaining international peace and security, with decisions that are binding, under the slogan “Prevention, Partnership, Protection.”
The election for a non-permanent member for the 2027/2028 biennium has not yet been scheduled but is expected to occur in June next year.
Portugal’s direct competitors are Germany and Austria for the two non-permanent member seats allocated to the Western European and Others Group.
The candidacy was formalized in January 2013, with the elections for the said term occurring during the UN General Assembly’s 80th session in 2026, the year António Guterres concludes his second five-year term as UN Secretary-General.
This week, the President, the Foreign Minister, and the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs held dozens of bilateral meetings in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to promote the Portuguese campaign and present its program, positions, and visions.
“This General Assembly was of great importance because it was the last before the electoral process for the non-permanent seat on the Security Council, which will take place in June 2026. Therefore, this was the last General Assembly,” commented Rangel, reflecting on the intense diplomatic agenda in New York.
“We may still come to the United Nations more than once because, obviously, the vote will take place here, and there are contacts to be made. It is natural that before June, I will have to come to the United Nations more than once, precisely within the framework of this campaign,” he admitted.
Portugal has previously served as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council three times: in 1979-1980, 1997-1998, and 2011-2012.
However, Rangel argued that returning to the UN body in this moment of global geopolitical change would give the country “a unique projection” and “has many advantages.”
“As the countdown towards the vote progresses, we must increase our commitment and prioritize the issue of the Security Council election in our contacts. This is not about a candidacy for prestige. Portugal already has prestige and doesn’t need to be elected to the Security Council to have it,” he noted.
“It is about being truly at the heart of where these issues have the most visibility, where discussions are held, where we can influence and indeed change something, and at the same time, maximize the Portuguese position in all respects,” the official emphasized, reinforcing that this is not “a decorative election” or “a medal for Portugal.”
The minister indicated that Portugal will prioritize multilateral issues and the need to reform the United Nations and restore the organization concerning peace and security issues.
“This is why the Security Council is a fundamental institution. We want to be effectively at the heart of this global debate, and to be effective, this non-permanent position in 2027-2028 is decisive,” he concluded.
The UN Security Council is composed of 15 members (five permanent and 10 non-permanent). Each member has one vote, and the five permanent members—China, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, and Russia—also have veto power.
Non-permanent members are elected for a two-year term.
