All articles tagged with #united nations security council
Republican Rep. Don Bacon urged the United Nations General Assembly to remove Russia from the Security Council, calling Moscow a “pariah state” and advocating for its ouster as well as tougher sanctions and more U.S. military aid to Ukraine, arguing Russia is losing on the battlefield and that the House will vote on related sanctions and aid in about two weeks.
First Lady Melania Trump chaired a UN Security Council session on Children, Technology and Education in Conflict, urging member states to safeguard education for all children and to use AI to expand access, while not addressing the reported Iranian school airstrike amid ongoing US-Israeli strikes and strained UN relations.
First Lady Melania Trump presides over a U.N. Security Council session in New York focused on education’s role in advancing tolerance and peace, as the U.S.-led strikes in Iran continue. She offers condolences to families of service members, while U.N. officials underscore the toll of conflict on children and schooling in the region. The meeting mostly features statements from member-state delegates, with the White House noting her historic chairing role.
Russia used its veto power in the United Nations Security Council to kill off a U.N. panel of experts that has been monitoring North Korea’s efforts to evade sanctions over its nuclear program for the past 15 years. The panel has provided evidence of how Russia is keeping North Korea supplied with fuel and other goods, presumably in return for weapons that North Korea can use in Ukraine. This move reflects a shift in Russia's stance on North Korea's nuclear program and highlights the erosion of global efforts to constrain nuclear proliferation.
The US and UK conducted retaliatory strikes against Houthi sites in Yemen, while Israel faced allegations of genocide at the International Court of Justice from South Africa. Israeli airstrikes in Gaza resulted in civilian casualties, with at least 10,000 children killed during the 98-day conflict. Diplomatic tensions rose as Russia condemned the use of force in Yemen, Iran criticized the attacks on Houthi sites, and the EU criticized Israeli officials' statements. Clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian groups were reported in the West Bank, including the killing of a former prisoner, and settlers bulldozed Palestinian land in Masafer Yatta.
The United States and nearly 50 other countries, including France, Israel, Germany, and Spain, have issued a joint statement condemning the transfer of ballistic missiles from North Korea to Russia, which were then used in attacks on Ukraine. The statement calls on Russia and North Korea to immediately cease activities violating United Nations Security Council resolutions and demands that Russia be held accountable for violating international obligations. The U.S. plans to raise the issue at the United Nations Security Council.
A joint statement from the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of numerous countries, along with the High Representative of the European Union and the Secretary of State of the United States, condemns the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) export and Russia’s procurement of DPRK ballistic missiles, as well as Russia’s use of these missiles against Ukraine. The statement expresses deep concern about the security implications of this cooperation in Europe, on the Korean Peninsula, across the Indo-Pacific region, and around the world, and calls on the DPRK and Russia to abide by relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and cease all activities that violate them.
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) vote on a resolution calling for a suspension of hostilities in Gaza and the delivery of humanitarian aid has been postponed for a third day. The draft resolution, led by the United Arab Emirates, has undergone revisions to secure a compromise. The United States, which previously vetoed a similar resolution, has objected to certain language and has been engaged in negotiations to avoid another veto. The latest draft calls for a "suspension" of hostilities and includes provisions for the release of hostages and UN monitoring of aid. The vote has been delayed multiple times, and the US is expected to veto the resolution.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized other countries for not demanding that Hamas surrender and stop hiding behind civilians, stating that the conflict would end if Hamas laid down its arms. Blinken questioned why there were no demands made of the aggressor and only demands made of the victim. The United Nations Security Council continues to negotiate a resolution for a ceasefire, but the US has not yet supported it. Blinken emphasized that the conflict needs to shift to a lower-intensity phase with more targeted operations focused on dealing with Hamas leadership and the tunnel network. He acknowledged the suffering of civilians in Gaza and called for unity in demanding that Hamas take action to end the suffering.
North Korea fired an unidentified type of ballistic missile towards the sea off its east coast, according to the Japan Coast Guard and the South Korean military. The launch follows warnings from Seoul and Tokyo that North Korea was preparing to test-fire a missile, potentially including an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). All of North Korea's ballistic missile activities are banned by United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has called on the United Nations Security Council to demand an immediate and sustained ceasefire in Gaza, lift the siege, and ensure unrestricted aid to the entire Gaza Strip. MSF accuses the Security Council of complicity in the ongoing slaughter due to its inaction and vetoes from member states, particularly the United States. MSF teams have witnessed a resumption of indiscriminate killing and forced displacement on a large scale since the collapse of the seven-day truce. The conditions in Gaza have become unbearable, with significant increases in infectious diseases and a desperate need for humanitarian aid. MSF urges the Security Council to act now to end the carnage and alleviate the suffering of the people in Gaza.
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is set to meet to discuss the war in Gaza and a draft resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. The resolution, supported by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other Arab nations, requires at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes from the five permanent members. So far, the UNSC has failed to pass four resolutions due to lack of consensus. The US and UK have vetoed previous ceasefire resolutions, while Russia, China, Gabon, and Mozambique have consistently supported immediate ceasefires. The outcome of today's meeting remains uncertain, with the US likely to veto any resolution calling for a ceasefire.
US officials have criticized Israel's conduct in the war on Gaza, urging the protection of civilians, ahead of a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting to discuss a resolution calling for a ceasefire. However, the US is unlikely to pass the resolution. The UNSC meeting comes after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres invoked Article 99, warning of a global threat from the war. Human rights group Amnesty International has urged the US not to block the resolution, while critics doubt the US will support any resolution that constrains Israel.
Turkish President Erdogan declared that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu will be tried as a "war criminal" after the Israel-Hamas war concludes. Erdogan criticized the Security Council's lack of reforms and accused Netanyahu of being the "butcher of Gaza." Israel has shifted its focus to southern Gaza following the collapse of a cease-fire, and fears of a wider conflict have grown after attacks on trade ships in the Red Sea. US forces in the Middle East have been attacked at least 75 times since mid-April.
A delegation of Islamic and Arab nations is touring the five permanent United Nations Security Council member states to bring a ceasefire to the war on Gaza, increase humanitarian aid, and seek support for Palestinian statehood. The delegation's first stop in China may be an attempt to gather global support and signal a shift away from the United States as a major ally in the region. While some experts question the efficacy of the trip, Arab leaders recognize that the power to stop the violence lies with the US and are seeking to galvanize global support and pressure the Israeli government.