Security Council Plan of Work for March 2026*
The US is the president of the Security Council in March.
Council members were unable to reach agreement on the provisional programme of work for the month, apparently due to China and Russia’s objection to the inclusion of a briefing on the work of the 1737 Sanctions Committee concerning Iran on the proposed programme. The disagreement stems from disputes among Council members over the triggering of the “snapback” mechanism to reimpose the UN sanctions on Iran that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iran’s nuclear programme and resolution 2231 of 20 July 2015 had suspended. (For more information, see our 22 December 2025 What’s in Blue story.) At the time of writing, committee chairs had not been appointed as Council members continue to negotiate this year’s allocation of subsidiary bodies chairs. The US is therefore likely to brief at the meeting in its capacity as Council president.
Instead of an official programme of work, the US has circulated a “plan of work”, which will be published on the presidency’s website. In a departure from the usual practice of briefing the press immediately after the consultations on the programme of work, the US presidency will not deliver the press briefing on the Council’s work this month.*
The US will organise two signature events during its presidency. The first is a briefing titled “Children, Technology, and Education in Conflict” under the “Maintenance of international peace and security” agenda item, which was held this afternoon (2 March). First Lady Melania Trump chaired the meeting, at which Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo briefed.
The second signature event is a briefing on “Energy, critical minerals, and security”, which will also be held under the “Maintenance of international peace and security” agenda item. A UN Secretariat official is expected to brief.
Council members are expected to continue closely monitoring the military escalation in the Middle East. The US and Israel launched a large-scale attack against Iran on 28 February. Since then, Iran has been carrying out retaliatory strikes against Israel and US bases in the region. The Security Council convened for an emergency meeting to discuss the matter on 28 February. It may hold additional meetings depending on developments.
Several other Middle Eastern issues are on the plan of work this month.
There will be meetings on the political, humanitarian, and chemical weapons tracks in Syria. The meeting on political and humanitarian developments will feature briefings by Deputy Special Envoy for Syria Claudio Cordone and Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Joyce Msuya. Deputy to the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) Adedeji Ebo is scheduled to brief at the meeting on the chemical weapons track.
Council members will receive a briefing in consultations on the Secretary-General’s report on the implementation of resolution 1701. (Adopted in 2006, resolution 1701 called for a cessation of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel.) Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix are the anticipated briefers. Council members will also be closely watching the potential spillover effects on Lebanon of the US-Israel war against Iran. Overnight between Sunday (1 March) and today, Hezbollah fired rockets and drones towards Israel, stating that the action was taken in response to the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Since then, Israel has been carrying out retaliatory strikes in Lebanon.
The Council will also hold its monthly meeting on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”. Ramiz Alakbarov, the Deputy Special Coordinator and Resident Coordinator at the Office of the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO), is expected to brief. Nickolay Mladenov, the High Representative for Gaza of the Board of Peace and the liaison to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), may also brief. Closed consultations are scheduled to follow the open briefing.
Lacroix will also brief Council members in closed consultations on the activities of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan.
The Security Council is expected to address one African issue in March. It will hold its quarterly briefing and consultations on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), including the work of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). The anticipated briefer is the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Protection and Operations in MONUSCO, Vivian van de Perre. Council members are also expected to consider a draft resolution adjusting MONUSCO’s mandate based on the Secretary-General’s report and recommendations due to be submitted by 1 March pursuant to resolution 2808 of 19 December 2025.
The only Asian issue featured on this month’s plan of work is Afghanistan. Council members are expected to vote on a draft resolution extending the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) ahead of its 17 March expiry. Prior to that, there will be an open briefing and closed consultations on the situation in Afghanistan. The anticipated briefer is Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (Political) and UNAMA Officer-in-Charge Georgette Gagnon.
Regarding non-proliferation issues, the Council is expected to receive a briefing on the work of the 1540 Committee. (Adopted in 2004, resolution 1540 aims to prevent non-state actors from obtaining access to weapons of mass destruction.) At the time of writing, the chair of this committee had also not yet been appointed. If the chairs are not appointed by the time the meeting is scheduled to take place, the US may brief in its capacity as Council president.
Other issues—including Haiti, Myanmar, Sudan, and Ukraine—could be raised during the month depending on developments.
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**Post-script (3 March, 10:00 am): a previous version of this story noted that the US presidency plans to hold a press briefing on the Council’s programme of work for the month on 3 March. After the story’s publication, the press briefing was cancelled. The story was amended to reflect the change.
