UN Security Council Resolution 22 was adopted to address the escalating tensions following the Corfu Channel incident, which took place in October 1946 when British warships were shelled by Albanian artillery. The British Navy had been conducting operations in the channel, a narrow strait separating Albania from Greece, designed to secure safe passage and demonstrate presence in the region. The attack led to casualties and complicated the already strained relations between Britain and Albania.

In response to this act of aggression, the British government sought international intervention, bringing the issue to the United Nations. The resolution urged Albania to cooperate by providing detailed information about the attack and condemned the assault on British naval forces. It was part of a wider effort to establish a framework for addressing regional security issues and to prevent potential conflicts during the early years of the Cold War.

The adoption of Resolution 22 marked a significant moment for the UN as it solidified the organization's role in promoting international peace, particularly in post-World War II Europe. The incident also foregrounded the complexities of the geopolitical landscape of the Balkans and underscored the challenges the UN faced in mediating conflicts where national sovereignty and international law intersected.