Security Council stalemate: can the UN General Assembly adopt a resolution authorizing military action?

To put it in simple terms: no, it is not possible in the current state of international law. This question concerns the articulation of competences between the General Assembly and the Security Council of the United Nations (UN). As a matter of principle, Article 12 of the UN Charter specifies that while the Security Council is fulfilling its functions, the General Assembly cannot make any recommendation unless the Security Council requests it to do so. Specifically, Article 12(1) of the UN Charter declares that: “While the Security Council is exercising in respect of any dispute or situation the functions assigned to it in…