Delivered by: Abdulla Alajeeli, Second Secretary
Madam President,
Thank you for convening this annual debate.
We convey our gratitude to the penholder, Council members and to the Secretariat for their contributions to this report (contained in document S/2026/426) and commend its adoption by the Security Council before the end of May in line with Note 507. We also appreciate the continued practice of holding an informal meeting every January to hear the views of the wider membership on the drafting of the introduction to the report.
Allow me to make three points.
First, on the use of the veto, while the reduction in the number of vetoes in 2025 compared to 2024 is welcome, the manner in which the veto is often exercised continues to raise serious concerns. The UAE reiterates that the veto should be exercised with restraint, with due regard to the demonstrable will of the UN membership, and in a manner that does not undermine international law. We also reiterate/reaffirm support for the “Code of Conduct on Security Council Action against Genocide, Crimes against Humanity, or War Crimes”, as developed by the Accountability, Coherence, and Transparency Group (ACT); and the French-Mexican “Initiative on Veto Restraint in Cases of Mass Atrocities”.
In this regard, the UAE deeply regrets the failure of the Security Council to adopt the draft resolution contained in document S/2026/273 on 7 April, which sought to ensure that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to all in accordance with international law and to address the disruption of commercial shipping. The security and navigability of the Strait of Hormuz are not regional concerns alone. They are matters of global energy security, international trade, humanitarian supply chains, and respect for the law of the sea.
Madam President,
My second point relates to respect for Council mandates and measures.
The credibility of the Security Council depends not only on the adoption of its resolutions, but also on their implementation. Council measures and mandates must be upheld, operationalized, and supported by functioning subsidiary bodies.
As the report before us recognizes, 2025 saw the longest delay in appointing Chairs and Vice Chairs of subsidiary bodies. Unfortunately, in 2026, the Council has surpassed this record. We urge the Council to appoint Chairs and Vice Chairs as a matter of priority and urgency. Delays in appointments weaken the Council’s ability to implement its own decisions, including at moments when implementation is most needed. These points have been aptly expressed by ACT (the Accountability, Coherence, and Transparency Group).
My third point relates to the analytical content of the report as well as making it as user-friendly as possible.
The UAE welcomes the fact that this year’s introduction is more comprehensive and analytical than in previous years. It reflects several issues raised by Member States during the informal meeting convened in January, including on the use of the veto , the appointment of Chairs and Vice-Chairs of subsidiary bodies, and the process for the selection and appointment of the next Secretary-General.
We also welcome the report’s broader reflection on challenges affecting the Council’s work, as well as the inclusion of a dedicated chapter on the Veto Initiative.
Looking ahead, future reports could build on this progress by including clearer references to the provisions guiding the preparation and adoption of the report, including Article 24(3) of the Charter, relevant General Assembly revitalization resolutions, and Presidential Note 507. They could also provide clearer references to relevant Council documentation, further analysis of the Council’s interaction with the General Assembly and other principal organs, and more detailed information on vetoes, subsidiary body appointments, and the Secretary-General selection process, where relevant.
In closing, the UAE expresses its appreciation to Council members for their efforts to make the Introduction to the report more comprehensive and analytical.
Thank you, Madam President.