United Nations Security Council (UNSC)

United Nations Security Council (UNSC)

Context: India’s strikes on Pakistan were not an escalation, but a “response” to the Pahalgam terror attack, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri told envoys of 13 of 15 countries in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). 

Role & Objective: 

  • Primary Role: One of the five principal organs of the United Nations (UN), responsible for maintaining international peace and security. 

  • Decisions are binding on all UN member states under the UN Charter. 

  • Objective: Empowered to determine threats to peace, recommend peaceful settlement methods, impose sanctions, and authorize military action. 

  • Headquarters: at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, USA. 

Membership: 

  • Total Members: Composed of 15 members, each having one vote. 

  • Permanent Members (P5) with veto power: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. 

  • 10 Non-Permanent Members: Elected by the UN General Assembly for two-year terms with equitable geographical representation: 

  • 5 from Africa/Asia 

  • 1 from Eastern Europe 

  • 2 from Latin America 

  • 2 from Western Europe and Others