China and Russia vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution on Tuesday aimed at encouraging nations to coordinate efforts to safeguard commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The veto came despite the draft being significantly watered down to remove any references to the use of force.
The 15-member Security Council saw 11 votes in favor, with China and Russia voting against and two members abstaining. The resolution, presented by Bahrain, called for defensive measures to ensure safe navigation and prevent disruptions to the vital shipping route, through which nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas flows.
U.S. Condemns the Veto
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, criticized the vetoes, calling them “a new low” as Iran’s partial closure of the Strait has hindered delivery of medical aid and supplies to humanitarian crises in Congo, Sudan, and Gaza.
Waltz urged “responsible nations” to join the U.S. in securing the Strait, ensuring it remains open for lawful commerce, humanitarian goods, and the free movement of global trade.
Diplomatic Reactions
France also condemned the vetoes. Its UN ambassador, Jerome Bonnafont, said the aim was to implement “strictly defensive measures” to protect the Strait without escalating the conflict.
Bahrain had modified the draft in response to China’s concerns, removing any authorization of force and references to binding enforcement. The revised text focused on encouraging defensive coordination, including the escort of merchant vessels and deterrence against attempts to block or interfere with international navigation.
Background
The vetoes come amid heightened tensions as U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran does not comply with his ultimatum to reopen the Strait. Oil prices have surged since U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, with Tehran largely restricting access to the strategic waterway.
The failed resolution underscores the difficulty of reaching international consensus on protecting one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes, even as global energy supplies and trade remain under threat.
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