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Veto Power In The UN Security Council

On December 12, 2023, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution for an instant ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Although non-binding, these resolutions reflect the member nations’ consensus. The vote saw 153 countries in favour, 10 against, and 23 abstaining. The US’s ongoing support for Israel is highlighted by its veto against a ceasefire resolution from the UN Security Council the previous week.

This article delves into the rationale behind granting veto powers to certain countries within the United Nations and examines why this authority has persisted for over 70 years.

Veto Power In The UNSC

United Nations General Assembly

  • All nations part of the UN are members of the General Assembly.
  • The General Assembly can approve resolutions on relevant topics.
  • A simple majority vote, more than half of the members, is necessary to approve resolutions.
  • The resolutions of the General Assembly are not legally binding.

United Nations Security Council

  • The Security Council is more exclusive than the General Assembly.
  • It is composed of permanent members known as the ‘P5’ – the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China.
  • The Security Council also has 10 additional temporary members, chosen based on General Assembly elections. They serve for two years each.
  • Unlike the General Assembly, the resolutions of the Security Council are legally binding.

Power of Veto within the Security Council

  • Each of the P5 members holds the power of veto.
  • According to the UN Charter, a resolution fails if any of the ‘P5’ casts a negative vote.
  • A member can opt to abstain, allowing a resolution to pass if it gets the minimum nine votes.
Also Read | Everything You Wanted To Know About UN Security Council Reform

Why Is Veto Power Exclusively Granted To Permanent Members Of The Security Council?

UN’s Justification

  • The United Nations Charter was formed by five countries.
  • These countries played key roles in the formation of the UN.
  • They were envisioned to significantly contribute to international peace and security.

Post-World War Two Scenario

  • The five countries were victors against Germany, Italy, and Japan in World War Two.
  • The United States, the United Kingdom, and the USSR were leading the war efforts.
  • They had a strong interest in securing exclusive rights in an international peacekeeping organization.

The Formation of the UN Security Council

  • The process was described by author and journalist David Bosco in a 2014 article.
  • The United States, the Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom, the dominant Allied powers, secured permanent seats for themselves.
  • France and China were offered seats by these countries, with the expectation that they would assume or reassume great-power status.

Roosevelt’s Beliefs

  • American President Franklin D Roosevelt had specific beliefs about China.
  • Despite the ongoing civil war between the Communist Party and the Nationalist Party in China, Roosevelt believed the Communists would be defeated.
  • He assumed that China would become an ally against the USSR.

The Power Of Veto

Early Discussions

  • Historian Arthur Schlesinger reveals that the US foresaw potential vetoes and made strategic maneuvers to disable opposition.
  • George Washington advocated for the practical necessity of veto powers for the most influential nations.
  • Without exclusive powers, these nations would likely opt out of participating in the UN.

Dual Motivations Behind the UN

  • Document analysis suggests that the formation of the UN was driven by both altruism and national self-interest.

Dissenting Voices

  • Countries including Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Italy, and Switzerland all voiced concerns over exclusive veto powers.
  • Turkish officials also questioned the voting procedures, expressing doubts to French diplomats.

Turkish Perspective

  • The setup seemed destined to legitimize the dominance of larger powers over smaller ones.
  • The Turks warned of smaller states being reduced to the status of satellites of the larger powers.

The US’s Stance

  • The US maintained its stance, arguing that other UN members wouldn’t be able to enforce UN edicts on the great powers without the great powers’ concurrence.
  • The US applied a combination of lobbying, intelligence gathering, and maneuvering to achieve its goal.

Rethinking The Structure Of The United Nations Security Council

Status Disparity

  • A significant status difference exists within the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The difference arises from the veto power and permanence of some member states.
  • Countries like India, Germany, and Japan have substantial global influence, but they are not permanent members.

Calls for Wider Representation

  • Countries including India have called for P5 membership, demanding broader representation.
  • These efforts have remained unsuccessful as they challenge the established dominance of the current P5 nations.

Power Dynamics in the UNSC

  • Countries such as China, the US, and Russia maintain significant influence within the council.
  • They perceive the inclusion of new members as a potential threat to their power.

Expansion of Non-permanent Members

  • The changing global dynamics could not be ignored.
  • As a result, the number of non-permanent UNSC members was increased from six to 10 in 1965.

Proposed Reforms

  • A 2020 Foreign Policy article proposed a novel structure for the Security Council.
  • The proposal includes making all 15 seats temporary, introducing restrictions on lobbying expenses, and implementing two-term limits within a cycle of 30 years.

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