Latvia to chair UN Security Council for first time in its history in November

In brief

• Latvia holds the rotating UN Security Council presidency for one month from 1 November 2026, its first time doing so.
• Riga names the war in Ukraine and new technologies as its top priorities during the presidency.
• Latvia and its partners held 16 formal Council meetings on Ukraine this year, according to NV.
• The post is mainly procedural, but gives a small state visibility and insight into Council decision-making.

Latvia takes the Security Council presidency

Latvia will hold the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council for one month starting 1 November, the first time the Baltic state has done so. The Latvian foreign ministry announced the arrangement, saying Riga will preside over all formal and informal Council meetings during that period (Латвия впервые в своей истории возглавит Совет Безопасности ООН – Charter 97) (Латвия впервые возглавит Совбез ООН: среди приоритетов — поддержка Украины – NV).

Priorities: Ukraine and new technologies

Latvia's mission in New York has named the situation in Ukraine as a priority, alongside challenges and opportunities linked to new technologies (Латвія вперше в своїй історії головуватиме в Радбезі ООН – Європейська правда). Ambassador Sanita Pavluta-Deslandes said the presidency gives a country its greatest visibility on the Council and allows Latvia to defend its interests and values while showing a responsible stance (Латвия впервые возглавит Совет Безопасности ООН – Charter 97). She added that Latvia is working to keep Russia's war against Ukraine on the Council's agenda and that protecting Latvia's security includes support for Ukraine.

Track record on Ukraine

According to the NV news site, Latvia and its European partners have already convened 16 formal Security Council meetings this year devoted to Ukraine, and Riga regularly organises informal briefings on other conflicts. Riga intends to use meetings it calls to push its agenda, including preventing what it calls the normalisation of Russian aggression.

Context for the rotation

Latvia follows a series of presidencies held by Denmark, France and Greece. The post is largely procedural, though procedural votes in the Council can be politically contested, and participation gives a small state a view of how decisions are shaped behind the scenes. Pavluta-Deslandes said Latvia's aim is to strengthen its own security, including by backing Ukraine.