Marcos seeks ASEAN, Arab support for Philippines' UNSC bid

President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. sought support from wealthy Arab nations and ASEAN countries during the 2nd ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit in Kuala Lumpur for the Philippines' bid to join the United Nations Security Council for the term 2027-2028.

Marcos highlighted the country's progress in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region and Mindanao as a model of peacebuilding, emphasizing that the success of BARMM can enrich the work of the UNSC.

The president called the peace process in the Bangsamoro region 'the centerpiece of our country’s experience in building peace,' aiming to secure backing from ASEAN and Arab countries for the Philippines' bid for a non-permanent seat.

The UN Security Council is composed of 15 member-countries, with five permanent members (China, France, Russian Federation, the UK, and the US) and ten elected non-permanent members serving two-year terms.

Elections for the UNSC term will take place in June 2026 in New York; the Philippines has previously served as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 1957-58, 1963-64, 1975-76, and 1981-82.