03/06/2026
READ: OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF THE ATENEO PROJECT FOR ASIAN AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (APAIR) IN SUPPORT OF THE PHILIPPINES’ BID FOR A NON-PERMANENT SEAT IN THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL
The Ateneo Project for Asian and International Relations (APAIR) is cognizant of the sociopolitical turmoil that exists in the present. Rightfully, many policies and decisions of the government and its elected officials have been met with legitimate criticisms, which warrant continued public scrutiny. Yet amidst these challenges, the Philippines' current foreign policy and its strategic posturing in the West Philippine Sea is a prodigious exception. Through this pursuit, we are in the right direction.
Therefore, as the UN General Assembly convenes today to elect new non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) 2027–2028 term, APAIR stands in firm support of the Philippines government’s push for candidacy. As an organization dedicated to fostering dialogue on regional and global affairs, we staunchly believe that the Philippines, being geographically situated at the crossroads of the Indo-Pacific and deeply engaged in both regional and global affairs, is uniquely positioned to contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security through its undying commitment to maintain a rules-based international order.
A keen consideration of history would show that the Philippines has consistently demonstrated its dedication to international peace, which inherently benefits its own domestic security. With the gamut of contributions to United Nations peacekeeping operations to its advocacy for the rule of law, maritime security, human rights, and sustainable development, the Philippines has proven itself, time and again, of its propensity to embody the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter.
At such a precarious time, wherein the international community faces increasingly complex challenges, the Philippines being a leading voice for climate resilience and human security as a nation ranked first globally in the World Risk Index, we believe that the Security Council would benefit from the perspective of a nation that possesses unparalleled understanding of the intersection between climate change and global security. More than that, the Philippines, as an emerging middle power, is incontrovertibly capable of amplifying the voices of developing nations, small and medium-sized states, as well as the broader Global South.
Therefore, we call upon members of the family of nations to support the Philippines’ bid, confident that a seasoned, resilient, and future-ready perspective to the Security Council will be brought by our country.
—END OF STATEMENT—
