China, which has veto power, has made clear its opposition to any authorization of the use of force
The United Nations Security Council is expected to vote next week on a Bahrain resolution to protect commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuzdiplomats said this Friday (3). No date has been announced.
A China, which has veto power, has made clear its opposition to any authorization of the use of force. Bahrain, which currently chairs the Security Council, finalized a draft resolution on Thursday that would authorize “all necessary defensive means” to protect commercial shipping. Bahrain, supported in its efforts to secure a resolution by other Gulf Arab states and Washington, had already withdrawn an explicit reference to mandatory enforcement in a bid to overcome objections from other nations, especially Russia and China.
A meeting of the 15 Council members was initially scheduled for this Friday and then rescheduled for Saturday (4). Since the start of the war between the United States, Israel and Iran, oil prices have risen, starting a conflict that has lasted more than a month and which has effectively closed the strait to maritime traffic.
A fourth draft of a resolution was placed under the so-called silent procedure for approval until Thursday at 1 pm (Brasília time). Diplomats said the silence was broken by China, France and Russia, but a text was later finalized, or “blue-lit” in UN parlance, meaning a vote could take place.
The finalized draft resolution authorizes the measures “for a period of at least six months (…) and until the Council decides otherwise.” Meanwhile, in comments to the Security Council on Thursday morning, China’s UN envoy Fu Cong opposed authorizing the use of force.
*Reuters
