The Security Council will discuss the situations in Sudan, Iran, and Myanmar in a crucial week
The United Nations headquarters in New York is witnessing intense diplomatic activity this week, as the Security Council a series of crucial meetings and briefings from December 22 to 26. These meetings come at a highly sensitive international juncture, with the Council's agenda dominated by pressing issues affecting international peace and security, most notably the humanitarian and political crisis in Sudan, the escalating situation in Myanmar, the future of the Iranian nuclear agreement, and other regional tensions.
The Myanmar file: International efforts to contain the crisis
The Council will begin its work with the thorny issue of Myanmar, holding a closed session at the joint request of the Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom (the penholder on this file). This session is of particular importance given the continued political and security deterioration in the country since the 2021 military coup, which has prompted ongoing international and regional intervention.
The UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy to Myanmar, Julie Bishop, is scheduled to provide a comprehensive briefing on the latest developments, with the participation of the Special Envoy of the Chairperson of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Tan Sri Osman Hashim, via videoconference. This coordination between the UN and ASEAN reflects an international recognition that resolving the Myanmar crisis requires a unified regional and international approach to prevent the country from sliding further into isolation and violence.
Sudan: The humanitarian catastrophe is on the Security Council's agenda
On Arab and African affairs, the Security Council is holding an open briefing session to discuss the situation in Sudan, in response to an official request from the Sudanese government, supported by a strong diplomatic bloc that includes the “A3 Plus” group (Algeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and Guyana), along with major powers represented by China, Russia, and Pakistan.
This session comes amidst the ongoing armed conflict that erupted in mid-April 2023, which has created a humanitarian crisis described by the United Nations as one of the world's worst displacement and hunger crises. The Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East and Asia, Mohammed Khaled Khiari, and the Director of the Crisis Response Division, Edem Wosorno, will provide detailed briefings, reminding Council members of their responsibilities to halt the deteriorating situation and protect civilians.
The Iranian nuclear agreement and international tensions
On the issue of nuclear non-proliferation, the Security Council will hold a session on Tuesday to discuss the Secretary-General's periodic report on the implementation of Resolution 2231 concerning the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (the Iran nuclear deal). This session was requested by a Western bloc comprising the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Denmark, Slovenia, Greece, and South Korea.
These discussions are of strategic importance given the stalemate in the nuclear negotiations and the growing Western concerns about enrichment programs, making the Security Council session a key platform for gauging the international community's sentiment towards the future of this fragile agreement.
Other security files and anticipated decisions
The Council's agenda is not limited to these issues; it also includes a discussion of "threats to international peace and security" at the request of Venezuela and with the support of Russia and China, reflecting the current state of international polarization. Members are also continuing negotiations on renewing the mandates of vital UN missions, such as the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights, the United Nations Support Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), and the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED).
In a historical context, a presidential statement is being prepared to mark the 30th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Agreement in Bosnia and Herzegovina, to emphasize the importance of maintaining stability in the Balkans, in addition to monitoring border tensions between Cambodia and Thailand, which confirms the comprehensive role played by the Council in monitoring hotspots of tension around the world.
