The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) stands as the principal organ responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security. For VIT Pune MUN 2026, delegates will engage with a dual agenda that addresses two of the most pressing challenges facing the international community today.
Dual Agenda Format
Agenda A: Strengthening International Peace and Security with Emphasis on Maritime Security and Safety
Agenda B: The Situation in Syria: Political Developments and Humanitarian Issues
Agenda A: Maritime Security and Safety
Maritime security has emerged as a critical pillar of international peace and stability. With over 80% of global trade transported by sea, disruptions to maritime routes have far-reaching consequences for economies worldwide.
Key Challenges in 2025-2026
- Red Sea Crisis: Houthi attacks on commercial vessels have disrupted one of the world's most critical shipping lanes. Since late 2023, these attacks have caused a significant rerouting of global shipping traffic around the Cape of Good Hope, adding weeks to delivery times and billions in costs.
- Strait of Hormuz: Approximately 21% of global petroleum liquids consumption passes through this strategic chokepoint, making it a flashpoint for tensions involving Iran and regional actors.
- South China Sea Disputes: Overlapping territorial claims, artificial island construction, and freedom of navigation operations continue to raise tensions between major powers.
- Gulf of Guinea Piracy: While declining from its 2020 peak, piracy and armed robbery in West African waters remain significant concerns for seafarers.
- Climate-Induced Challenges: Rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and the opening of new Arctic shipping routes create emerging security dynamics.
UNCLOS and the Legal Framework
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) provides the foundational legal framework for maritime governance. However, the Convention faces challenges from non-ratifying major powers, grey-zone activities that exploit legal ambiguities, and the emergence of new threats not fully addressed at its adoption. Delegates should understand the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) concept, innocent passage rights, and the high seas governance framework.
Current Affairs: 2025 Developments
- Operation Prosperity Guardian: The US-led multinational naval operation continues to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea, though questions persist about its long-term sustainability and effectiveness.
- EU Naval Mission ASPIDES: The European Union's defensive naval operation launched in February 2024 continues its mandate to safeguard maritime navigation.
- IMO Regulations: The International Maritime Organization has strengthened regulations on vessel security, cybersecurity for ships, and environmental protections.
- Private Maritime Security: The role of private security companies in protecting vessels raises questions about accountability and the use of force at sea.
Agenda B: The Situation in Syria
Syria represents one of the most complex humanitarian and political crises of the 21st century. After more than a decade of devastating conflict, the country finds itself at a critical juncture following the dramatic events of late 2024.
The Fall of Assad: December 2024
In a stunning turn of events, the Assad regime collapsed in December 2024 following a rapid offensive by opposition forces. President Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia, ending over five decades of his family's rule. This seismic shift has created both opportunities for peace and significant challenges for the international community.
Key Actors in Post-Assad Syria
- Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS): The dominant faction in the transitional administration, led by Abu Mohammed al-Jolani (Ahmed al-Sharaa), currently controls most of Syria.
- Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF): The Kurdish-led force controls significant territory in northeastern Syria and maintains a complex relationship with the new Damascus authorities.
- Turkish-backed Syrian National Army: Active in northern Syria, their operations have created tensions with Kurdish forces.
- External Powers: Russia, Turkey, Iran, and the United States maintain varying degrees of military presence and political influence.
Humanitarian Situation
The humanitarian toll of the Syrian conflict remains staggering:
- Displacement: Over 6.8 million Syrians remain internally displaced, while approximately 5.5 million are registered as refugees in neighboring countries.
- Aid Access: The transition period has created uncertainty regarding humanitarian corridors and cross-border aid mechanisms previously authorized by the Security Council.
- Reconstruction: Syria's infrastructure has been devastated, with estimated reconstruction costs exceeding $400 billion.
- Refugee Returns: Early 2025 has seen spontaneous returns of refugees, but conditions in many areas remain unsafe and services inadequate.
2025 Political Developments
- Transitional Government: The formation of a transitional administration in Damascus and its recognition (or non-recognition) by the international community.
- Sanctions Debate: Discussions on lifting or modifying sanctions originally targeting the Assad regime.
- Justice and Accountability: Calls for accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the conflict.
- Constitutional Process: The status of UN-facilitated constitutional discussions and the path toward inclusive governance.
Questions for Delegates
On Maritime Security:
- How can the Security Council balance the sovereign rights of coastal states with freedom of navigation principles?
- What mechanisms can address non-state actor threats to shipping without escalating regional conflicts?
- Should there be a UN-mandated naval force for protecting global shipping lanes?
On Syria:
- What conditions should guide the international community's engagement with Syria's transitional authorities?
- How can the Security Council facilitate humanitarian access while navigating the complex political landscape?
- What role should the Council play in addressing accountability for past atrocities?
Research Resources
Delegates are encouraged to consult the following sources for further research:
- UN Security Council Resolutions on Syria (particularly Res. 2254, 2585)
- UNCLOS and IMO conventions on maritime security
- UN OCHA humanitarian reports on Syria
- International Crisis Group analyses on both topics
- Security Council Report's monthly forecasts and What's in Blue updates
