💡Security Council Report’s (@SCRtweets) new research report, “𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒆𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝑪𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒆𝒏”, examines one of the Council’s most consequential informal working methods. It analyses how penholding shapes drafting, negotiation, leadership, and the distribution of power within the Council. 👉 bit.ly/4fepzuA SCR thanks the government of @GermanyUN for its generous support for this project, and all colleagues who shared their perspectives on the issues covered in the report.

On Monday morning (28 September), the #UNSC will hold an open briefing on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question” (MEPQ). Closed consultations are scheduled to follow. ◽️Briefers: @UNSCO_MEPP Acting Special Coordinator @RamizAlakbarov and two civil society representatives → Read more: bit.ly/3TsM5XX

At a high-level event convened by @GRUN_NY and @IndiaUNNewYork on the margins of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, SCR Executive Director @skandiah opened SCR’s contribution to the discussion before giving the floor to SCR Policy Analyst @rodrigopsaad, who presented his policy paper, “Artificial Intelligence, Geopolitics, and the UN Security Council.” In his remarks, @rodrigopsaad highlighted how rapidly advancing AI capabilities are reshaping the international peace and security landscape, including: 🔹 The growing geopolitical competition around AI and the critical minerals, semiconductors, computing infrastructure, energy and data on which it depends. 🔹 The close links between AI and maritime security, from global supply chains and undersea data cables to the ways AI is changing what state and non-state actors can do at sea. 🔹 The potential for AI to strengthen peacekeeping, early warning, mediation, ceasefire monitoring and conflict analysis, while preserving meaningful human oversight. 🔹 Emerging risks associated with cyber operations, disinformation, autonomous weapons and the growing use of AI in military decision-making. Rodrigo outlined the paper’s proposal for an Informal Expert Group on Technology, Peace and Security, which could provide Council members with more regular access to relevant expertise and help integrate technological considerations into the Council’s work. We were pleased to contribute to this timely discussion alongside fellow briefers Amandeep Singh Gill, UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Envoy for Digital and Emerging Technologies, and Izumi Nakamitsu, UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for @UN_Disarmament. We thank @GRUN_NY for its support for SCR’s work on this important topic.

🔵 This Week in Review | #WhatsInBlue 🗓️ 21 - 25 September 2026 📬 Subscribe to our “Week Ahead”: bit.ly/3AwYSel 🔷 𝗨𝗡 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗴𝗲𝗲𝘀 Briefing from UN High Commissioner for @Refugees @BarhamSalih 📑 bit.ly/3STfDhq 🔷 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗿𝗮𝗯 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 High-level informal interactive dialogue (IID) on cooperation between the UN and the League of Arab States (@arableague_gs) 👉  bit.ly/4xLz1v5 🔷 𝗨𝗸𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲 High-level briefing on Ukraine Requested by: @Denmark_UN, @franceonu, @GRUN_NY, @LatviaUN_NY, and @UKUN_NewYork 👉  bit.ly/4AuSrXC 🔷 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 (𝗔𝗜) High-level briefing on AI and international security 👉  bit.ly/4hGU9O5

Today (25 September), @SCRtweets (SCR) Policy Analyst @rodrigopsaad will brief at a high-level side event on "𝘈𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘌𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘗𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘌𝘮𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘈𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴", organized by @GRUN_NY and @IndiaUNNewYork. @rodrigopsaad will present key findings from SCR's policy paper, 𝘈𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘎𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘕 𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘭, which explores the implications of AI for international peace and security, including in the maritime domain. 📖 Read the policy paper: bit.ly/3SSDTjH 📺 Watch live at 3:00 pm EST: bit.ly/4AzArve

Tomorrow morning (25 September), the #UNSC will receive a briefing from UN High Commissioner for @Refugees @BarhamSalih. →Background: bit.ly/3STfDhq

Tomorrow afternoon (24 September), #UNSC members will hold a high-level informal interactive dialogue (IID) on cooperation between the UN and the League of Arab States (@arableague_gs). ◽️Chaired by: 🇫🇷 Minister Delegate @CaroitEleonore ◽️Briefers: LAS ASG @khaledManzlawiy and @UNDPPA USG @DicarloRosemary →Read more: bit.ly/4xLz1v5

This morning (23 September) at 11 am EDT, the #UNSC will hold a high-level briefing on Ukraine. ◽️Chaired by: 🇫🇷 MFA @jnbarrot ◽️Briefer: @UNDPPA USG @DicarloRosemary ◽️Requested by: @Denmark_UN, @franceonu, @GRUN_NY, @LatviaUN_NY, and @UKUN_NewYork →Read more: bit.ly/4AuSrXC

Tomorrow afternoon (23 September), the #UNSC will hold a high-level briefing on artificial intelligence (AI) and international security. ◽️Chaired by: 🇫🇷 MFA @jnbarrot ◽️Briefers: Independent International Scientific Panel on AI Co-Chair @Yoshua_Bengio, @OpenAI CEO @sama, @AnthropicAI CEO @DarioAmodei, and @HuggingFace CEO @ClementDelangue →Read more: bit.ly/4hGU9O5

This week, 21-25 September, at the #UNSC | 📬 Subscribe: bit.ly/3AwYSel 📅 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 🔷 High-level open briefing on Ukraine, at the request of the Council’s European members (@Denmark_UN, @GRUN_NY, @franceonu, @LatviaUN_NY, and @UKUN_NewYork) 🔷 High-level open briefing on artificial intelligence (AI) and international security organized by @franceonu (the Council’s president in September) 📅 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 🔷 High-level informal interactive dialogue (IID) with representatives of the League of Arab States (@arableague_gs) 📅 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 🔷 Open briefing by UN High Commissioner for Refugees @BarhamSalih 👉 bit.ly/3STfDhq

🔵 This Week in Review | #WhatsInBlue 🗓️ 14 - 18 September 2026 📬 Subscribe to our “Week Ahead”: bit.ly/3AwYSel 🔷 𝐔𝐍 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 • The #UNSC held a debate on peacekeeping reform. 👉 bit.ly/4xuDQbN 🔷 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲-𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 • Council members participated in the third straw poll to select a candidate to recommend to the General Assembly as the next @UN Secretary-General. 👉 bit.ly/4dIVAZX 🎙️ bit.ly/4daMHbF 🔷 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 • Arria-formula meeting titled “Safe Seas, Shared Security: Protecting Freedom of Navigation in an Evolving Security Environment” organized by @BahrainMsnNY. 👉 bit.ly/4rhkYLZ 🔷 𝐒𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐚 • Briefing and consultations on political and humanitarian developments in Syria. 👉 bit.ly/46swavP 🔷 𝐈𝐫𝐚𝐧 • The #UNSC voted on a draft resolution extending the mandate of the Panel of Experts supporting the 1737 Iran Sanctions Committee. The text, which was authored by @USUN, was not adopted owing to a veto by @Chinamission2un and @RussiaUN. 👉 bit.ly/3SLRzgo 🔷 𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐚𝐰 • Arria-formula meeting on upholding international law in situations of armed conflict organized by @PakistanUN_NY. 👉 bit.ly/4Ah02c9 🔷 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬 • Meeting under "any other business" to address pending matters related to the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (@unirmct) requested by @LibMissionUN. 🔷 𝐀𝐟𝐠𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧 • Briefing and consultations on Afghanistan and the work of @UNAMAnews. 👉 bit.ly/4rgBg87 🔷 𝐘𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧 • Emergency briefing on recent developments in the Bab al-Mandab Strait requested by @BahrainMsnNY, @Denmark_UN, @franceonu, @GRUN_NY, @LatviaUN_NY, and @UKUN_NewYork. 🔷 𝐒𝐮𝐝𝐚𝐧 • Informal interactive dialogue (IID) on Sudan organized by @Denmark_UN and @UKUN_NewYork. 👉 bit.ly/4isGgUK

Tomorrow morning (18 September), #UNSC members are expected to participate in the third straw poll to select a candidate to recommend to the General Assembly as the next @UN Secretary-General. →Read more: bit.ly/4dIVAZX

🎙️ 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐏𝐎𝐃𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐃𝐄 | 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬 In the latest episode of Interactive Dialogues, SCR’s Executive Director @skandiah and Senior Policy Analyst Sara Bertotti dive into recent developments following the UN Security Council’s second straw poll on 21 August. Key topics covered in this episode: 🔹 What the voting pattern reveals about the state of the selection process 🔹 Crucial insights into the dynamics within the Security Council 🔹 What the coming weeks could mean for the search for the next Secretary-General 🎧 Listen here: bit.ly/4daMHbF

💡 Security Council Report’s (@SCRtweets) new policy paper, “Artificial Intelligence, Geopolitics, and the UN Security Council”, examines how #AI is affecting international peace and security and reshaping geopolitical competition. The paper looks at how AI can support UN peace and security work, while also amplifying existing security risks, changing the conduct of armed conflict, and creating further risks as systems become more capable and autonomous. It also examines how competition over the resources, infrastructure, and supply chains needed to develop advanced AI is acquiring greater strategic importance, with potential implications for situations on the #UNSC’s agenda. The paper assesses how the #UNSC has engaged on AI to date, the political and institutional constraints affecting its role, and practical options for more systematic engagement—including an Informal Expert Group on Technology, Peace and Security. 📑 Read the full policy paper here: bit.ly/3SSDTjH SCR thanks the government of @GreeceMFA for its generous support of this project, and all colleagues who shared their perspectives on the topics and issues covered in the paper.

Tomorrow morning (17 September), the #UNSC is expected to vote on a draft resolution extending the mandate of the Panel of Experts supporting the 1737 Iran Sanctions Committee for another year, until September 2027. ◽️Authored by: @USUN →Read more: bit.ly/3SLRzgo

Tomorrow afternoon (17 September), @BahrainMsnNY will convene an Arria-formula meeting titled “Safe Seas, Shared Security: Protecting Freedom of Navigation in an Evolving Security Environment”. ◽️Chaired by: 🇧🇭 Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani (@bahdiplomatic) ◽️Briefers: @UNESCWA Executive Secretary @RaniaAlMashat, @UNCTAD Acting Secretary-General Pedro Manuel Moreno, @shippingics Secretary General @ThomasKazakos, and @UNIDIR Fellow @c_bueger →Read more: bit.ly/4rhkYLZ

Tomorrow (16 September), following the discussions on Afghanistan in closed consultations, #UNSC members will hold a meeting under "any other business" to address pending matters related to the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (@unirmct). ◽️Requested by: @LibMissionUN →Background: bit.ly/43iL3zl

On Thursday morning (17 September), the #UNSC will hold an open briefing on political and humanitarian developments in Syria. Closed consultations are scheduled to follow. ◽️Briefers: Deputy @UNEnvoySyria @claudio_cordone, @UNOCHA USG Tom Fletcher (@UNReliefChief), and a civil society representative →Read more: bit.ly/46swavP

Tomorrow afternoon (16 September), @PakistanUN_NY will convene an Arria-formula meeting on upholding international law in situations of armed conflict. ◽️Briefers: Head of the Humanitarian Policy and Planning Section @UNOCHA Aurelien Buffler, @ICRC Permanent Observer to the UN @EMosquiniICRC, @ipinst Director of Research @jennabrusso, and a civil society representative →Read more: bit.ly/4Ah02c9

Tomorrow morning (16 September), the #UNSC will hold an open briefing on Afghanistan and the work of @UNAMAnews. Closed consultations are scheduled to follow. ◽️Briefers: DSRSG for Afghanistan @ggagnonn and a woman civil society representative →Read more: bit.ly/4rgBg87