UN Security Council

The UK is 1 of 5 Permanent Members of the UN Security Council (UNSC). The Security Council has the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security.

We play a key role in all aspects of the Council's work, by providing info from our diplomatic network and negotiating and lobbying for appropriate actions and resolutions.

The UK next holds the Presidency of the UNSC in November 2010.

The Security Council continues to look at key international events and issues.

Recent discussions have included:

• sanctions on Iran to encourage suspension of nuclear activities
• Somalia
• Haiti
• Kosovo
• Iraq
• Afghanistan