Plenary meeting of the UN General Assembly on the Report of the UN Security Council 2025
Statement by H.E Mr James Larsen, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations
5 June 2026
Thank you President, for the opportunity to consider the Security Council’s annual report for 2025.
We are grateful to Pakistan for considering the comments from Member States regarding our expectations for the report’s introduction and appreciate the consultations organised by the PGA during the drafting process.
Today I make three points:
First, Australia has consistently called for increased transparency in the Council’s work.
While we recognise this would be difficult given the need for consensus, Australia would welcome more analysis in the Council’s annual report.
We particularly value frank reporting regarding the impact of divisions in the Council on “decision-making, the scope of outcomes, and the consistency of collective action”.
The monthly assessments prepared by Council members following their presidencies, which do not require consensus, could serve as a useful vehicle for such reporting, including analysis of possible procedural solutions and attempts to work through divisions.
Second, we were pleased by the Council’s collaboration with the PBC; namely on peace operations, local elections in the Central African Republic and women, peace and security.
In line with the Peacebuilding Architecture Review, we call on the Council to further strengthen this engagement by requesting context-specific advice and encouraging countries transitioning off its agenda to engage with the PBC.
This would enable the PBC to better support the Council’s work on conflict prevention and peacebuilding, particularly in transition contexts.
We would also welcome the inclusion of information on the impact of the PBC’s advice on Council deliberations in the annual report.
Such reporting would provide an evidence base for future members of both bodies to build on their cooperation, and most importantly, achieve results in conflict settings.
Third, Australia calls for the prompt resolution of the ongoing delay in appointing subsidiary body Chairs.
We are concerned about the impact this is having on the work of the sanctions committees, particularly given it has inhibited timely access to information for the wider membership.
The delay has also limited the contribution of elected members during their terms. Successive non-permanent members have made significant contributions to the Council and the involvement of the current E10 should not be limited.
As candidates for the Council in 2029-2030, we hope to be granted the opportunity to serve the membership.
We pledge to work constructively to help the Council fulfil its mandate should we be elected.
Thank you.