UNSC
- INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION
News:
UN Security Council
adopts resolution urging immediate halt to Yemen Houthi attacks in Red Sea
What's
in the news?
●
The UN Security Council (UNSC) adopted
resolution 2722 condemning attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels and demanding “an
immediate halt on all attacks on merchants and commercial vessels in the Red
Sea.”
Key
takeaways:
●
Since November 2023, Houthi rebels have
launched over a dozen attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea as a sign
of support for Gaza amid Israel’s war in the region and declared their
intention to target ships associated with Israel.
UNSC
Resolution 2722:
●
The resolution, sponsored by Japan and the US, passed with 11 votes in favour, none
against and four abstentions from Russia, China, Algeria and Mozambique.
Demands
of the Report:
●
It demanded an immediate and unconditional release of the
Japanese-operated Galaxy Leader along with its crew that were seized on
November 19.
●
It urged “caution and restraint to avoid
further escalation of the situation in the Red Sea and the broader region.”
Different
Perspectives of the Nations:
●
Russia
proposed three amendments to the resolution, including the addition of the war
in Gaza as the reason behind the Houthi attacks.
●
However,
they were vetoed by the UK and the US.
●
Russia stated they regretted that the
proposed amendments were not adopted, emphasizing that the resolution should
not legitimize the actions of the US-led coalition in the Red Sea, nor create a
non-existent right for states to defend their ships.
●
China said that the text remained
“ambiguous on several key issues” and expressed concern that the resolution
“might not achieve its intended effect.”
●
The US released a statement applauding the
actions taken by UNSC against Houthi attacks.
Go
back to basics:
Houthis:
●
The Houthis, a Zaydi Shiite movement, have been in conflict with Yemen’s government since 2004, which escalated into a
civil war that began in 2014.
Backed
by Iran:
●
Iran-backed Houthis deployed drones and
missiles to target ships in the Bab
al-Mandab Strait in the Red Sea, disrupting a crucial trade route
connecting Yemen, Djibouti and Eritrea.
Attacks
on Red Sea:
●
The attacks, which started in November
with the seizure of the Galaxy Leader—an allegedly Israeli-linked cargo
ship—prompted shipping firms to withdraw vessels from the region.
●
The attacks also impacted global trade, particularly oil shipments through the Red Sea.
●
Shipping companies were forced to use the
longer and more expensive trade route around the Cape of Good Hope in Africa.
UNSC:
●
UNSC is one of six principal organs of the
United Nations Organisation (UNO).
●
Its mandate is to maintain international peace and security.
●
UNSC
has 15 members, including five permanent viz. China, France, Russia, United
Kingdom and United States.
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Each of the five permanent members has veto power.
●
10
non-permanent members are elected for two-year terms each.
How
non permanent members got elected to UNSC?
●
General
Assembly elects each year five non-permanent members of the
Security Council. (two year term per member)
●
Non-permanent members of the Council
should be elected according to the following pattern:
○
Five from African and Asian States;
○
One from Eastern European States;
○
Two from Latin American States;
○
Two from Western European and other
States.
○
The present non permanent members were
Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana, India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Norway, United
Arab Emirates.
Powers
of UNSC:
●
Its powers include
○
establishment of peacekeeping operations
○
imposing international sanctions
○
authorization
of collective military action through resolutions.
●
It is the only UN body with the authority to issue binding resolutions to member
states.
Criticism
of UNSC:
●
It has been criticised for losing relevance, credibility and narrow
leadership.
●
Due to the differences among the P-5 and other countries, the UN is losing
coherence and focusing on issues of priority to all member states.
●
The council’s lack of multilateralism has also been criticised in the wake of the
Syrian war crisis and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
●
No
veto rights leave the non-permanent members toothless
as they cannot assert their will on any matter of international concern and can
merely persuade or dissuade other member states.
●
India has also constantly pointed to the lack of movement on reforms in the UNSC.