The Security Council in 2026: Mid-Year Scorecard and Looking Ahead

In this episode of Interactive Dialogues, SCR's Executive Director Shamala Kandiah sits down with Managing Editor Paul Romita to discuss SCR's August 2026 In Hindsight: The Security Council in 2026: Mid-Year Scorecard and Looking Ahead. The conversation examines the Security Council's performance in the first half of 2026, a period marked by deep divisions among members amid a rapidly deteriorating international peace and security environment. It explores trends in the Council's work, including a decline in meetings and outcomes, continued difficulties in achieving consensus, and the impact of geopolitical tensions on the Council's ability to respond to major crises. The discussion also considers significant developments related to UN peace operations, the selection of the next Secretary-General, and ongoing delays in the allocation of subsidiary body chairs. It reflects on what these dynamics reveal about the Council's effectiveness and adaptability, and assesses the challenges and key decisions that lie ahead in the second half of the year.For more info, please see our websiteExplore ways of supporting our work hereFollow us: @SCRtweetsSubscribe here for updatesEpisode produced and edited by Vladimir Sesar