Saudi Arabia Turned Down UN Security Council Seat

Saudi Arabia on 18 October 2013 turned down a coveted seat on the United Nations Security Council because of the failure of the international community to end the war in Syria and act on other Middle East issues. It cited the Security Council's failure to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, take steps to end Syria's civil war and stop nuclear proliferation in the region. It accused that the body had instead perpetuated conflicts and grievances.

A founding member of the United Nations, Saudi Arabia was one of five countries elected by the UN’s General Assembly on 17 October 2013 to serve a two-year term on the 15-member Security Council.

Saudi Arabia, officially known as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is the largest Arab state in Western Asia by land area and the second-largest in the Arab world. Its capital is Riyadh.