Greece Endorses Zimbabwe’s Bid for Non-Permanent UN Security Council Seat

Greece has officially declared its support for Zimbabwe’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2027–2028 term. This endorsement adds to the growing international backing Zimbabwe has received in its pursuit of a role in the influential global body.

The announcement was made by Greece’s incoming Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Ms. Anna Farrou, following her presentation of credentials to President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House in Harare. She was joined by her Cuban counterpart, Ambassador Susellys Perez Meza, who also presented her letters of credence.

Ambassador Farrou expressed her commitment to strengthening diplomatic ties between Zimbabwe and Greece while emphasizing Greece’s gratitude for Zimbabwe’s support in its own successful bid for a UNSC seat for the 2025–2026 term.

“I reiterated our commitment to support Zimbabwe in its effort to be elected to the Security Council,” she stated.

The UNSC is composed of five permanent members—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—alongside ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms. Non-permanent seats are allocated regionally, with Africa and Asia collectively holding five positions. Zimbabwe’s candidacy underscores its growing diplomatic engagements and aspirations for a greater role in global peace and security efforts.

Ambassador Farrou also commended President Mnangagwa’s leadership in fostering regional stability through his role as Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

“I also commended the tireless efforts by His Excellency, the President, regarding securing peace and security in the region, also through his leadership in SADC,” she noted.

Beyond political cooperation, Ambassador Farrou highlighted key sectors for collaboration between Zimbabwe and Greece, particularly tourism, agriculture, and education. She pointed out that Greece, a globally renowned tourist destination, welcomes millions of visitors annually and is eager to share its expertise with Zimbabwe to develop its tourism industry further.

“Greece, as you know, is a touristic country. Our industry heavily relies on tourism. Last year alone, 35 million people visited Greece. So, there is a lot of expertise there, and we are very happy to share it with our friends and partners,” she said.

Agriculture is another area of potential cooperation, with Greece looking to explore opportunities to enhance agricultural productivity in Zimbabwe. Additionally, the ambassador expressed a commitment to expanding academic ties by increasing the number of scholarships available to Zimbabwean students.

Meanwhile, Cuba’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Ms. Susellys Perez Meza, reaffirmed the strong historical ties between Zimbabwe and Cuba, pledging to work towards further strengthening bilateral relations. She also acknowledged the shared challenges both countries face, particularly economic sanctions, and reiterated Cuba’s commitment to advocating for their removal.

“My task will be to strengthen these ties. We share a lot of values. We are very close. Unfortunately, we also share some things, like the sanctions. We will continue fighting against that,” she stated.

Zimbabwe’s diplomatic engagements with Greece and Cuba signal its broader strategy to strengthen international partnerships while advancing its candidacy for a seat on the UNSC. If successful, Zimbabwe would gain an influential platform to contribute to global peace and security discussions.