Joining the high table: Greece’s security council membership

Membership in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is seen as a rare chance for states to further their national interests and advance their foreign policy objectives. Becoming a member of the UNSC means achieving immense status, power and diplomatic recognition. For the third time in its history, Greece was elected to take a seat on this fifteen-member body. Through its UNSC membership, Greece seeks to reposition itself at a more central stage in the international arena after almost fifteen years of repeated crises. Can it deliver on its mission? By conceptualizing influence and using influence criteria to assess Greece’s 2025–26 UNSC performance, this article argues that a non-permanent seat does not produce actual impact but only influence attempts.