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General Assembly: 80th plenary meeting, 80th session
PM Session
General Assembly Debates Strait of Hormuz Closure after China, Russian Federation Veto Security Council Draft Resolution Presented by Gulf States
Use of the veto
-Item 64: Special report of the Security Council (A/80/707)
Debate pursuant to resolution A/RES/76/262
The General Assembly today heard explanations from China and the Russian Federation regarding their use of the veto on 7 April, when they rejected a Security Council draft resolution submitted by Gulf States aimed at securing freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz amid heightened tensions across the Middle East.
The 193-member Assembly cannot overturn or nullify a Council veto, which may be exercised by China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom or the United States as the five permanent Council members. But, it may discuss, scrutinize and politically respond to veto use through debate and resolutions under the Charter of the United Nations and established practice.
This role was significantly strengthened in April 2022, when the Assembly adopted a procedure requiring every Council veto to trigger an Assembly debate within 10 working days. Today’s debate was held under this initiative, which requires vetoing States to explain their rationale and allows all UN members to comment on and assess the veto’s consequences, thereby enhancing transparency and accountability.
On 7 April 2026, the Security Council held its 10130th meeting, to take action, inter alia, on a draft resolution contained in document S/2026/273, which had been submitted by Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The meeting was held in connection with the item entitled “The situation in the Middle East”.
The result of the voting on the draft resolution was as follows:
In favour: Bahrain, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, France, Greece, Latvia, Liberia, Panama, Somalia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America.
Against: China, Russian Federation.
Abstaining: Colombia, Pakistan.
In accordance with Article 27 (3) of the Charter, the resolution obtained the required number of votes but was rejected because a permanent member of the Security Council voted against its adoption.
The verbatim record is available as S/PV.10130
The General Assembly will hold a debate on “Use of the veto”, following the veto cast by China and the Russian Federation on a draft resolution submitted by Gulf States at the 10130th meeting of the Security Council on 7 April, under the agenda item “The Situation in the Middle East”. Had it been adopted, the draft would have strongly encouraged countries to coordinate defensive efforts and deter attempts to interfere with international navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Assembly meets against a highly dynamic backdrop of escalation in the Middle East triggered by US-Israeli strikes against Iran on 28 February and growing hopes for a breakthrough between Tehran and Washington, D.C., following reports of a second round of peace talks to be held in Pakistan, and high-level talks today between Israel and Lebanon.
The conflict between Israel and Hizbullah has threatened to upend the ceasefire between the US and Iran, which expires next week. Today's meeting is convened pursuant to resolution 76/262 of 26 April 2022, mandating that the Assembly President convene a formal meeting of the General Assembly within 10 working days of a veto being cast by a permanent member of the Security Council.
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