Security Council
Global peace arbiters
The Security Council is the United Nations body responsible for maintaining international peace and security.
It has five permanent members—the United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China—each holding veto power over resolutions, plus ten rotating members.
The Council can authorize sanctions, peacekeeping missions, or military action: The Security Council voted to impose sanctions on North Korea.
Formal decision or determination
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
- multilateralInvolving multiple parties
- ambassadorOfficial foreign representative
- consensusGeneral group agreement
mediation · treaty · summit · envoy · delegation · accord · diplomat · foreign policy
Fixed seats on council
- blockSolid mass, or impede
- deadlockMutual blocking, no progress
- impasseSituation without resolution
- abstentionFormal refusal to vote
unanimous consent · pocket veto · veto override · paralysis · accountability
Head covers tinted azure
- peacekeepersForces maintaining cease-fires
- missionPurpose-driven task
- mandateFormal authoritative directive
- deploymentOrganized distribution of resources
ceasefire · stabilization · observer · patrol · conflict zone · buffer zone · multinational force · reconstruction
Official prohibition on trade
- asset freezeBlocking access to wealth
- travel banProhibition on journeys
- arms embargoBan on military exports
- nonproliferationRestricting weapons dissemination
enforcement · compliance · financial sanctions · delisting · exemptions · sanctions evasion · due process
resolution
Formal decision or determination
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
- multilateralInvolving multiple parties
- ambassadorOfficial foreign representative
consensus · mediation · treaty · summit · envoy · delegation · accord · diplomat · foreign policy · international relations
permanent members
Fixed seats on council
abstention · unanimous consent · pocket veto · veto override · paralysis · accountability
blue helmets
Head covers tinted azure
- peacekeepersForces maintaining cease-fires
- missionPurpose-driven task
- mandateFormal authoritative directive
deployment · ceasefire · stabilization · observer · patrol · conflict zone · buffer zone · multinational force · reconstruction · consent
embargo
Official prohibition on trade
- asset freezeBlocking access to wealth
- travel banProhibition on journeys
- arms embargoBan on military exports
nonproliferation · enforcement · compliance · financial sanctions · delisting · exemptions · sanctions evasion · due process
- UN HistoryUN Charter, General Assembly, peacekeepers, veto power, Kofi Annan
- UN OrgansGeneral Assembly, Secretariat
- UN BuildingUN headquarters, conference rooms, glass facade, visitor center, press briefing room
- Cold WarBerlin Wall, Iron Curtain, arms race, Warsaw Pact, Cuban Missile Crisis
- alliancesalliance, allies, ally, coalition, NATO alliance
- arms controlarms control, disarmament, nonproliferation, arms deals, arms reduction
Security CouncilGeneral Assembly
Main UN body
UN General Assembly · direct democracy · grassroots movement · town hall meeting
Security Councilunilateralism
Acting without international cooperation
isolationism · anarchy · balance of power · spheres of influence · gunboat diplomacy
secure, security, council, secured, insecurity, securing, securely, councils, unsecured