On 10 December 2024, the Delegation of the European Union in Panama and the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Panama organised a forum entitled “The Experience of Elected Members in the UN Security Council: Lessons and Perspectives”. More than 100 participants attended the event, including Panamanian officials, diplomats, representatives of multilateral organisations, academics, students and the media.

The main objective of the forum was to analyse and reflect on the experiences, challenges and contributions of the non-permanent members (known as E10) of the UN Security Council (UNSC), with special emphasis on Panama's participation during the period 2025-2026, providing a space for discussion among a diverse audience of professionals, officials and academics.

In his opening remarks, Javier Martínez-Acha, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama, highlighted the importance of strengthening the country's diplomatic capacities in the context of its upcoming role in the Security Council. In turn, Izabela Matusz, Ambassador of the European Union in Panama, highlighted the firm commitment of the European Union to multilateralism as a key tool to face global challenges.

The event consisted of two thematic panels that addressed key issues in international diplomacy: the first focused on the experiences of UNSC elected members, and the second on the present and future challenges facing UNSC elected members. Both panels featured speakers from Panama, Europe and Latin America with previous experience in the UNSC and/or UNSC-related work.

The first panel, “The Voice of Elected Members in the Security Council,” sought to highlight the role of elected members as a fundamental pillar in the UNSC decision-making process, with a particular focus on international peace and security. Historically, elected members have used their non-permanent seats in the UNSC to advance their national agenda, without relinquishing issues of regional and global concern, thus actively contributing to the preservation of the rules-based international order.

Dr. Giancarlo Soler Torrijos, Director of the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, focused on Panama's diplomatic offensive at the multilateral level in its dispute with the United States of America over the Panama Canal Zone, emphasising the importance of the 1973 UNSC sessions in Panama City. He also shared that, in his opinion, a successful agenda for an elected member of the UNSC is one that focuses on values and principles.

The Deputy Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Peggy Vissers, focused her remarks on the fight against impunity for the commission of atrocity crimes and on her country's role as host of several international criminal tribunals. She also referred to the operational challenges faced by elected members in the implementation of UNSC resolutions, the financing of peacekeeping operations, the fight against climate change and cybersecurity threats, as well as Panama's possible priorities during its mandate in the UNSC.

The Ambassador of Peru, Mario López Chávarri, highlighted the innovative mechanisms generated by Latin American States to address issues of concern to the UNSC, emphasising the mediating role alongside the UNSC and the good offices of UN Secretary General Javier Pérez de Cuellar, as well as the importance of the Arria Formula discussions conceived by Venezuelan diplomat Diego Arria.

The second panel, “Elected Members and Global and Regional Crisis Management: Opportunities and Challenges for the Present and Future,” elaborated on the role of elected members in the design and implementation of crisis and conflict management strategies. The panel deepened the discussion on participation in peacekeeping missions and humanitarian initiatives for human rights (Responsibility to Protect), while offering the unique perspective of elected members in addressing these contemporary challenges.

This panel addressed the experiences of elected members in the interest of proposing innovative solutions to current problems, including those related to UN peacekeeping missions and proposals aimed at increasing representativeness and equity within the UNSC.

Thus, Ambassador Tomas Guardia, Head of the UN Security Council Unit of the Foreign Ministry, emphasised the dangers of inaction and the exponential growth of UNSC activities, including Ukraine, Gaza, the Korean Peninsula and Haiti. He also mentioned the importance in the field of human rights of mechanisms such as the Ombudsman or sanctions on Al Qaeda and Daesh.

The Ambassador of Guatemala, Karla Samayoa, reflected on the role of this Central American country as a promoter of the Responsibility to Protect and initiatives such as the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency Group and the France-Mexico initiative on the use of the veto power by the permanent members (P5) of the UNSC.

Finally, Daniel Bertrand, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium in Panama, gave an overview of UN peacekeeping missions and reflected on current challenges such as host state consent, peacebuilding efforts and compliance with international humanitarian law.

Vice Minister Carlos Ruíz Hernández highlighted in his closing remarks that the discussions held undoubtedly contributed to Panama's preparations for its next term on the UNSC, further consolidating the nation's dedication to promoting multilateral diplomacy and fostering inclusive global solutions.

As such, the conference brought together a diverse group of diplomats, Panamanian officials, multilateral representatives, academics, practitioners and students, who participated in this meaningful discussion on the role of elected members of the United Nations Security Council, with a focus on exchanging best practices between Latin America and the European Union. This forum represented a decisive step in Panama's preparation to assume its role in the UN Security Council, reaffirming its commitment to peace, international security and the strengthening of the multilateral order.