The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations and holds the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. Unlike other UN bodies, the Security Council has the authority to make legally binding decisions, including the imposition of sanctions, the authorization of military action, and the establishment of peacekeeping missions.

 

Composed of 15 member states—five permanent members (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) with veto power, and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms—the UNSC serves as the central forum for responding to global crises. It addresses a wide range of threats, including armed conflicts, terrorism, nuclear proliferation, and humanitarian emergencies.