By Eetika Kapoor
An attempt to put an end to the six-year-old Syrian civil war came to a screeching halt on Tuesday when Russia and China vetoed the proposed UN sanctions against Syria for usage of chemical weapons for mass destruction. While nine out of fifteen member states of the UN security council voted in favour of the resolution, Russia alongside China and Bolivia vetoed the sanction and crushed any chance of its implementation. Russia has used her veto to protect the office of Syrian President Bashar-al-Assad for the seventh time in a row. The veto is disappointing and the first of its kind permitted under President Trump despite talks of counter-terrorism that recently took place between both countries.
The Implications
The resolution would have put 11 Syrians, mainly military commanders, and 10 entities linked to the chemical attacks of 2014 and 2015 on a UN sanctions blacklist. This would’ve been at direct odds with the political interests of the Syrian government, causing an uproar. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that imposing sanctions on Syria during peace talks in Geneva was completely inappropriate especially since the talks werent going as smoothly as expected.
Echoing his concern was Russian Deputy ambassador Vladimir Safronkov who described the resolution as a provocation by the western Troika.
The Beginning of a Conflict
Formed in 1997, the Chemical Convention for Weapons (CCW) barred the usage of weapons of mass destruction, this agreement was signed by 192 countries joined by Syria in 2013. The Syrian government under Russian pressure also agreed to be a part of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). In the summer of 2014 however, the Syrian government reportedly used barrel and mustard bombs to destroy the village of Ghout in Damascus.
Since 2011, these chemical attacks have killed 400,000 civilians and displaced more than half of the population. Yet, the Syrian government repeatedly denies usage of any chemical weapon.
The ‘Troika’s’ Response
Nikky Haley, US ambassador to the UN addressed the failure of the resolution to be increasingly dangerous to the world. In complete contrast to the Russian President’s statement, Haley said,”This resolution is very appropriate.” She also went on to criticise the vetoes describing them as ”abominable and indefensible choices”. It is a sad day on the Security Council when members start making excuses for other member states killing their own people, she said.
French UN ambassador François Delattre said the lack of action taken by the council would send a message of impunity.
British UN ambassador Matthew Rycroft addressed the council before the voting, This is about taking a stand when children are poisoned, its that simple,” he said.
The Global Consequences
US and Russia have always shared bitter relations, but today, the repercussions of such enmity are threatening global security. Even the credibility of organisations such as CCW and OPCW is under question. The international failure to end the turmoil in Syria increases the possibility of toxic chemicals being used as weapons to hold civilians hostage. Russia and China’s decision to veto the proposed sanctions and undermine the UN may spark off a crisis that is too mighty for the international community to control.