Central Asian Solidarity Boosts Kyrgyzstan's Security Council Candidacy

On December 4, 2025, at a press conference held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, Uzbekistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ulugbek Rapasov, announced on behalf of all Central Asian countries that the presidents of the five Central Asian nations unanimously supported Kyrgyzstan's candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2027-2028 term. This joint appeal quickly attracted international attention.

"We call on UN member states to support Kyrgyzstan's candidacy," Rapasov stated in a declaration, adding that this support reflects the region's desire to strengthen its voice in international peace and security affairs.

Kyrgyzstan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Aida Kasemalieva, welcomed the unanimous support from its neighbors, stating that it embodies "a shared commitment to peace, dialogue, and constructive multilateralism."

01 Election Trajectory: Kyrgyzstan's Path to the Security Council

Kyrgyzstan's efforts to seek a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council date back several years. As early as 2017, Kyrgyzstan first announced its intention to run for a seat on the UN Security Council. In September 2018, then-President Jeenbekov formally announced at the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly that Kyrgyzstan would participate in the election for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2027-2028.

The campaign momentum reached a new peak in 2024. In September of that year, President Sadyr Japarov addressed the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, pointing out that 60 countries, including Kyrgyzstan, had never been elected as members of the Security Council, and that this "historic injustice" must be corrected.

Japarov emphasized at the time that, if elected, Kyrgyzstan would dedicate itself to improving the efficiency and transparency of the Security Council and promoting its expansion to achieve a balanced representation across the region, particularly improving the representation of African countries on the Security Council.

In April 2025, Kyrgyzstan held a reception at the UN headquarters in New York to officially launch its campaign. Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kurubayev outlined Bishkek's core priorities: conflict prevention, sustainable development for landlocked and mountainous countries, nuclear disarmament, and support for UN reform. The event attracted diplomats from over 150 UN member states.

02 Regional Solidarity: Unanimous Support from Central Asian Countries

On November 16, 2025, at the 7th Consultation Meeting of Central Asian Heads of State in Tashkent, the leaders of five countries demonstrated rare regional solidarity. Following the meeting, the heads of state signed a joint statement, which specifically included an appeal to UN member states to support Kyrgyzstan's candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council.

This gesture of regional solidarity was publicly displayed at a UN press conference on December 4. Uzbekistan's Permanent Representative to the UN, Rapasov, announced the joint initiative as the regional representative, emphasizing the shared support of Central Asian countries for Kyrgyzstan's candidacy.

Regional support extends beyond Central Asia. During the Central Asian Summit with Germany in Astana in September 2024, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated, “I wish the Kyrgyz Republic success in its election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2027-2028. I believe Kyrgyzstan will be able to make a significant contribution to strengthening stability and security in Central Asia and other regions.”

Kyrgyzstan is also actively seeking broader international support. According to the Kyrgyz Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Secretariat held a special briefing in Beijing specifically to discuss supporting Kyrgyzstan's candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council.

03 Election Platform: Representing the Needs of Landlocked and Developing Countries

Kyrgyzstan's election platform focuses on representing the interests of landlocked and developing countries. As a landlocked, mountainous country, Kyrgyzstan plans to focus on the specific needs of such countries within the Security Council.

Foreign Minister Kurubaev outlined priorities including: conflict prevention, promoting sustainable development in landlocked and mountainous countries, nuclear disarmament, and supporting UN reform. These issues reflect Kyrgyzstan's own geoeconomic characteristics and development challenges.

Kyrgyzstan's election platform shares similarities with Kazakhstan's focus during its 2017-2018 term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. Kazakhstan, like Kyrgyzstan, emphasized nuclear disarmament, regional security, and representing the interests of landlocked developing countries. However, Kyrgyzstan's election is viewed not only as a national endeavor but also as a platform for participating in regional affairs on the global stage.

In his UN address, President Japarov emphasized Kyrgyzstan's commitment to making the Security Council more effective, transparent, and inclusive. He specifically mentioned "removing barriers to economic cooperation and simplifying transit and procedures between countries and regions," directly reflecting the development concerns of landlocked nations.

04 Election Prospects: Competing for Asia-Pacific Seats and Regional Representation

According to UN election procedures, the election for non-permanent members of the Security Council for 2027-2028 will be held during the UN General Assembly in June 2026. The Security Council consists of 15 members, with China, Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France as permanent members, and the remaining 10 non-permanent members elected by the UN General Assembly for two-year terms.

Kyrgyzstan will compete for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council representing the Asia-Pacific region. Local media reports indicate that Kyrgyzstan's main competitor is the Philippines, which has also announced its candidacy. This is not the first time a Central Asian country has served as a non-permanent member of the Security Council—Kazakhstan was elected in the 2017-2018 term, becoming the first country in the region to hold this seat.

Kyrgyzstan's campaign rhetoric emphasizing the correction of "historical injustice" has a dual significance. On the one hand, it points out that 60 UN member states have never served on the Security Council; on the other hand, President Japarov specifically called for expanding the representation of African countries on the Security Council.

Foreign Minister Kurubayev further clarified this position at the UN Security Council meeting in September 2024, emphasizing that "Kyrgyzstan advocates for qualitative and quantitative reforms to the Security Council, including improving working methods and expanding membership to achieve balanced regional representation."

05 Domestic Context: The Tension Between Political Reality and Global Ambitions

While Kyrgyzstan actively seeks a higher position on the international stage, changes in its domestic political environment have also attracted attention. Kyrgyzstan, once considered one of the most open societies in Central Asia, has seen a decline in civil liberties in recent years, with increased restrictions on independent media and greater pressure on non-governmental organizations.

In 2021, Kyrgyzstan adopted a new constitution that expanded presidential powers and weakened checks and balances. Recently, the parliamentary passage of the "Foreign Agents" law has drawn widespread criticism from civil society, exacerbating concerns about the suppression of internationally connected non-profit organizations.

The government argues that these reforms aim to protect national values ​​and promote stability. Analysts point out that with the UN General Assembly vote approaching, Kyrgyzstan's foreign policy will be tested not only in international policy but also in whether its domestic record aligns with the principles it claims to uphold abroad.

Kyrgyzstan also faces a series of development challenges. According to relevant data, Kyrgyzstan's GDP per capita is low, its industrial structure is undergoing adjustment, income inequality exists, and as a landlocked country, it has a trade deficit.

Geographically, Kyrgyzstan occupies a key position in Central Asia and is connected to several regional organizations. Kyrgyzstan is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union and participates in multilateral mechanisms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. These regional connections provide Kyrgyzstan with diplomatic resources and may also influence its choice of stance in international affairs.

In June 2026, the UN General Assembly will vote on the non-permanent Security Council seats for the 2027-2028 term. For Kyrgyzstan, a successful election would make it the second Central Asian country, after Kazakhstan, to hold this position, fulfilling a decade-long pursuit.

Regardless of the outcome, the coordinated action of Central Asian countries in supporting Kyrgyzstan's bid for a Security Council seat itself signifies a new trend of unity in the region's international affairs.