Maldives elected as Vice President of 80th UNGA Session

The Maldives has been elected to serve as the Vice President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) for its 80th session.

The 80th session of the UNGA will run from September 2025 to September 2026.

At the election held on Monday, June 2nd in New York, the Maldives along with Bangladesh, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Timoir-Leste were elected for the five seats available for the Asia-Pacific Group of the session.

The election of Maldives to lead as the Vice President of a UNGA session is significant as it coincides with the 60th anniversary of Maldives' membership at the United Nations (UN), which will be celebrated on September 21, 2025.

Maldives became a members of UN on September 21, 1965.

Speaking about Maldives' election as the Vice President of the 80th UNGA session, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu said that the Maldives government and its people looked forward to "working closely with our partners" in ensuring the 80th UNGA session is a success.

He also assured that the Maldives remain committed in "enhancing the multilateral system" as the country will be commemorating 60 years of UN membership.

While the Maldives has been elected to serve as a Vice President of a UNGA session, the former Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid had served as the Chair of the 76th Session of the UNGA.

The Vice Presidents of the General Assembly are entrusted in carrying out the function of the President of the General Assembly (PGA) when the PGA is absent or indisposed. The VP will have the same powers and duties as the PGA and remain under the authority of the General Assembly.

A total of twenty-one Vice Presidents are elected for each session, which includes six from African states, five from Asia Pacific states, two from Latin American and Caribbean states, two from Western Europe and Other states, one from Eastern European and Other States, and the five permanent members of the Security Council which are the United States, Russia, China, United Kingdom and France.

Besides the Maldives, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh had previously served as Vice Presidents of UNGA sessions.