Thailand has submitted its candidature for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the term 2017-2018. The Thai government has also announced the official launch of Thailand’s campaign for UNSC, with the elections scheduled for October 2016, during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Thai officials appear confident that Thailand would be well suited to the duties and responsibilities inherent in a non-permanent appointment to the United Nations Security Council. Thailand has always maintained the position that diplomacy can act as a deterrent to international conflict. Furthermore, Thailand has played an integral part in various United Nations operations:

Thailand has always answered UNSC’s call for collective action in UN peace missions around the world. Since 1950, Thailand has deployed over 20,000 military and police personnel in over 20 UN peacekeeping and related missions worldwide. Just recently, Thailand has for the first time sent its policewomen to participate in the UN Mission in Liberia.

As noted above, Thailand’s role in international peacekeeping initiatives cannot be overstated. Meanwhile, Thailand has continued to maintain a deep commitment to promoting human rights in an international context. At the same time, Thailand and Thai officials have implemented policies to promote not only security, but peaceful solutions to potentially contentious international issues. All of this being stated, it has been quite some time since Thailand has held a position on the UN Security Council notwithstanding the fact that the Kingdom of Thailand has played a key role in many UN projects and programs.

Thailand served as President of the General Assembly in 1956 and served once as a non-permanent member of UNSC in 1985-1986. It was elected to the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) for the term 2010-2013 during which it served as President between 2010 and 2011. Thailand has subsequently submitted its HRC candidature for a second term in 2015-2017.

As Thailand has recently been intimately involved with human rights issues as a member of the UNHRC it stands to reason that Thailand may be well equipped for a seat on the Security Council as the matters discussed and policies promulgated by the UNSC can have a tremendous impact on many nations and individuals around the world. Those monitoring this issue can only speculate as to the outcome of Thailand’s decision to seek a Security Council position, but there seem to be logical arguments in favor of placing Thailand in such an important role.