Welcome to the United Nations Security Council of SSMUN ’26. The Middle East has entered the 2020s marked by a succession of conflicts, shifting alliances and growing confrontation between regional and global powers. This is most evident in the Red Sea, where the interests of states, non-state actors and global powers converge around one of the world’s most consequential maritime routes.

The Red Sea is more than a passage between continents. With the Bab-el-Mandeb connecting it to the Gulf of Aden and the Suez Canal linking it to the Mediterranean, instability in the region carries consequences far beyond its shores. Threats to commercial shipping have brought questions of freedom of navigation, maritime law and international security to the forefront, while the wider confrontation involving Iran, Israel, the United States and regional actors continues to complicate any path towards lasting stability.

Delegates will be expected to navigate the intersection of international law, state sovereignty and collective security while confronting the difficult questions of attribution, use of force, non-state actors and the limits of international institutions.

Constructive debate, rigorous negotiation and diplomatic conduct are expected from every delegate. The Council will demand a deep understanding of the interests, contradictions and consequences behind the issues. The most well researched and impactful delegates will sail through the turbulent seas.