At the United Nations headquarters in New York, the Security Council is holding an open debate on the relationship between poverty, underdevelopment and conflict. The meeting, a signature initiative of Guyana’s presidency of the Council this month, seeks to draw attention to how economic deprivation and inequality can fuel instability and violence across the globe.

The debate is being chaired by the president of Guyana, Irfaan Ali, marking a rare occasion when a head of state leads a Security Council session. Several foreign ministers and senior officials from UN member states are expected to participate, underscoring the growing international recognition of the need to address the root causes of conflict, rather than simply responding to its consequences.

Guyana, a small South American country with ambitions for a greater voice on global issues, has framed the discussion as part of a broader effort to shift the Council’s focus beyond traditional security threats to include structural drivers of instability. The debate is also expected to touch on the disproportionate impact of conflict and poverty on vulnerable populations, including women, children and displaced persons.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres is likely to brief the Council, alongside representatives from international development agencies. The session could pave the way for stronger integration of development and peacebuilding strategies in future Security Council resolutions.

Agencies