All articles tagged with #un charter
Iran accuses Ukraine of attacking a Caspian Sea commercial vessel, killing one sailor and wounding another, and summoned Kyiv’s envoy while calling for a firm UN/EU response; Kyiv reportedly claimed long-range strikes in the Caspian against vessels used for Iran-related military cargo and a warship, though the target vessel wasn’t named, underscoring broader tensions amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict and regional maritime pressure.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan pledged a deeper China-UAE partnership and endorsed a four-point plan for Middle East peace—advocating peaceful coexistence, respect for sovereignty, upholding international law and the UN Charter, and coordinated development—while the UAE commits to ceasefire efforts and safeguarding Chinese interests as both sides expand cooperation across energy, trade, education, and people-to-people exchanges under broader multilateral collaboration.
Britain says it will intercept missiles and drones targeting Gulf states not initially involved in the conflict and will allow the US to use British bases for limited defensive strikes against Iranian missile sites, arguing this falls under collective self-defence under Article 51. Legal experts interviewed by Middle East Eye are divided: some say Iran’s attacks were unlawful and Gulf states may defend themselves with UK help, while others contend the US/Israel strikes are unlawful and UK involvement could prolong aggression. A central dispute is whether collective self-defence can extend to protecting US bases or only the states under attack, and whether the measures meet necessity and proportionality in international law.
An opinion piece arguing that Trump’s attack on Iran was an unprovoked military move with no credible legal basis or congressional authorization, executed alongside Israel under the controversial Board of Peace. It criticizes the rationale, highlights bipartisan and international skepticism, and warns the bombing could escalate into a broader, hard-to-control conflict rather than yield a negotiated outcome.
Taiwan’s foreign minister Lin Chia-lung rebuked China's Wang Yi at the Munich Security Conference, saying China is the real security threat and accusing Beijing of hypocritically praising UN principles while repeatedly violating the UN Charter with military provocations around Taiwan. Lin stressed Taiwan’s sovereignty, arguing Beijing has no right to claim the island and noting China’s history of mass war games near Taiwan, while Taipei maintains that only Taiwan’s people can decide their future.
The Conversation piece by Mary Ellen O’Connell argues that U.S. actions in Venezuela—from Sept. 2025 attacks to the Jan. 3, 2026 Caracas raids—violate international law in three major areas: (1) the prohibition on the use of force under the UN Charter absent Security Council authorization or self-defense; (2) immunity of a sitting head of state from foreign prosecutions; and (3) interference with Venezuela’s sovereignty and its permanent rights over natural resources, with broad implications for international trust in the United States.
Israel's recent airstrikes on Iran, called 'Operation Rising Lion,' are deemed unlawful under international law as they lack UN Security Council authorization and do not meet criteria for self-defense, with experts emphasizing that the attack violates the UN Charter and international legal standards.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock urged Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to end the war in Ukraine during a G20 foreign ministers' meeting, emphasizing the impact on human lives and the need to defend fundamental principles. She criticized the UN Security Council's paralysis in addressing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, while Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira called for a reform of global governance and multilateral institutions.
The US and UK, with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands, conducted strikes against Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen in response to ongoing Houthi attacks on vessels in the Red Sea and surrounding areas. The strikes aimed to disrupt Houthi capabilities while avoiding escalation, in line with the UN Charter. The joint statement condemns the attacks, demands their end, and emphasizes that those supplying the Houthis are violating international law. The international response demonstrates a shared commitment to upholding navigational rights and defending mariners from unjustifiable attacks.
The US and Western allies criticized Russia for its ongoing war in Ukraine and accused Moscow of violating the UN Charter during a Security Council meeting chaired by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Lavrov defended Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine and blamed the US for exacerbating geopolitical challenges around the world. The conflict has caused massive suffering and devastation to Ukraine and its people, and tensions between major powers are at a historic high. The UN Secretary-General called for the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, and Japan's envoy demanded an immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.