December 2022 Monthly Forecast

Overview   

In December, India will hold the presidency of the Security Council.   

India plans to organise two signature events during the month. The first signature event is an open debate on “New Orientation for Reformed Multilateralism” under the “Maintenance of international peace and security” agenda item. Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is expected to chair the meeting. Secretary-General António Guterres and General Assembly President Csaba Kőrösi are expected to brief.  

The second signature event is a briefing titled “Global Approach to Counter-terrorism—Challenges and Way Forward” under the “Threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts” agenda item. Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is expected to chair this meeting also. Under-Secretary-General and head of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) Vladimir Voronkov and Acting Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) Weixiong Chen are expected to brief.  

In December, the Council is expected to hold its semi-annual debate on the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) 

The outgoing chairs of the Security Council’s subsidiary bodies are also expected to brief the Council on their experiences of facilitating the work of those bodies.  

African issues on the programme of work in December are:   

Middle East issues on the programme include:   

In terms of European issues, the Council is likely to hold one or more meetings on Ukraine. 

The only Asian issue planned in December is Afghanistan. The Council will hold its quarterly briefing and consultations on the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and will renew the mandate of the Monitoring Team assisting the 1988 Afghanistan Sanctions Committee. It is also likely to review the implementation of resolution 2615 of 22 December 2021, which established a humanitarian exception to the 1988 sanctions regime. 

Regarding non-proliferation, the Council is expected to receive a briefing on the Secretary-General’s report on the implementation of resolution 2231 of 20 July 2015, which endorsed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iran’s nuclear programme. 

Other issues could be raised in December depending on developments.  

Subscribe to receive SCR publications