Guyana Assumes the Presidency of the UN Security Council for June 2025
By Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News
On June 1, 2025, Guyana officially assumed the presidency of the United Nations Security Council for June, marking a significant diplomatic milestone for the country. According to a release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Guyana’s presidency will focus on a range of critical global issues, including conflicts in Syria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Afghanistan, Central Africa, Sudan, Libya, and Yemen.
As part of the Council’s work, a scheduled session will also examine UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which concerns Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories.
A significant highlight of Guyana’s presidency will be a high-level open debate on June 19th, chaired by President Dr. Irfaan Ali. The debate is titled:
“Poverty, Underdevelopment and Conflict: Implications for the Maintenance of International Peace and Security.”
The session aims to deepen global dialogue on how underdevelopment fuels conflict—and vice versa. Representatives from the United Nations system, the African Union, and various UN member states will participate.
Later in the month, on June 25th, Guyana will host the annual open debate on Children and Armed Conflict, with briefings from Virginia Gamba, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative, and Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF. That session will address the 2024 report from the Secretary-General, which highlights a disturbing rise in grave violations against children in war zones.
Throughout its presidency, Guyana has pledged to prioritize:
- Conflict prevention
- The link between development and security
- The impact of climate change on peace
- The protection of children
- And advancing the Women, Peace, and Security agenda
The Security Council’s program of work is expected to be formally adopted on Monday, June 2. Following that, Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, will brief the international press on the month’s agenda.
This marks Guyana’s third term on the UN Security Council—having previously served in 1975–1976 and 1982–1983. The current term runs from January 2024 to December 2025.
