Moments from the annual UN Security Council - African Union Peace and Security Council meeting: ✅ Retreat at Greentree Estate and 11th Informal Joint Seminar ✅ @ipinst lunch reception ✅ 20th annual Consultative Meeting This annual gathering brings together the UN Security Council and African Union Peace and Security Council for an exchange on strengthening cooperation, advancing peace and security, and reinforcing multilateral action. #UNSC #AUPSC

Media Stakeout to launch the Security Council Informal Expert Group on Technology, Peace and Security   As the Security Council’s discussions over the past months have demonstrated, there is a growing recognition of the implications of new and emerging technologies for the maintenance of international peace and security. The technological developments are reshaping conflicts and the information environment; they affect the protection of civilians and safety and security of UN personnel. While these technologies create new risks, they also present new opportunities. We need to ensure that the Council is in a position to fully assess their implications forits primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security. For this reason, Bahrain, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, France, Latvia, Liberia, Panama, United Kingdom and my own country, Greece, are launching today a Security Council Informal Expert Group on Technology and Peace and Security. The objective of the Informal Expert Group is to provide an opportunity for Council members to engage in structured and timely discussions on issues related to emerging technologies and their impact on international peace and security. These discussions will be guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. While not duplicating discussions within the existing formats, the group will provide a space for the Council members to consider both the challenges arising from the use of emerging technologies, as well as the opportunities to leverage these technologies to strengthen the Council’s engagement on these issues. The Group will contribute to these efforts in several ways. First, it will serve as a forum for horizon-scanning, enabling Council members to identify and better understand emerging technological developments that may have future implications for the maintenance of international peace and security. The Group will also meet to assess challenges and opportunities presented byemerging technologies for the implementation of thematic mandates such as peacekeeping, counter-terrorism, and protection of civilians. Furthermore, the Group may hold meetings ahead of specific mandate renewals, for instance, of peace operations, where technology related considerations are of particular importance. Finally, some practical details. Greece and Latvia, which have led the efforts to establish the Group, will serve as its co-chairs in 2026. The Group will hold its first meeting in November. While it is being convened by the Council members gathered here today, the Group remains open to current and future Security Council Members wishing to join. To facilitate its discussions, the Group will seek perspectives from the UN secretariat, non-governmental institutions and the private sector, among others. The Group will not seek to prejudge the response of the Council. Rather, it will aim tofacilitate a shared understanding of emerging technologies and provide Council members with up-to-date expertise, contributing to the Council’s ability to act effectively and at speed of relevance in light of the rapid technological change that is affecting implementation of its mandate.