Vote today: Does the Security Council authorize the use of force to protect the Strait of Hormuz?

Iran imposed a blockade on the vital Strait of Hormuz in response to the US-Israeli strikes that ignited the Middle East war, which threatens fuel supplies and destabilizes the global economy.

Economic terrorism

The Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Nations, Ambassador Jamal Al-Ruwaie, warned this week of "This situation will continue, and there will be economic suffocation and terrorism on our countries, and also on the world".

He said that the text was subject to several amendments and was supported by the United States "It comes at a sensitive and important time"

Defensive means

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday called on countries suffering from fuel shortages to… "Going to get her oil" in the Strait of Hormuz, adding that American forces will not help them in this.

The sixth and final draft of the text authorizes member states, either unilaterally or "As voluntary multinational maritime partnerships"use "All necessary defensive means that are proportionate to the circumstances" To ensure the safety of ships.

This applies to the strait and adjacent waters "To secure transit transit and deter attempts to close, obstruct, or interfere in any way with international navigation through the Strait of Hormuz."

This measure is supposed to continue for at least six months.

Additional escalation

But the draft resolution does not meet with consensus.

China said in the Security Council that "Allowing member states in the current circumstances to use all necessary measures… would lead to additional escalation"While Russia denounced the text "Biased"

French President Emmanuel Macron, for his part, considered Thursday that a military operation for"release" The strategic strait is "Unrealistic" Since it is the matter "It will take a very long time, and will expose everyone who crosses the strait to threats"

The Strait of Hormuz

In turn, Jerome Bonafon, the French ambassador to the United Nations, said on Thursday that "It is up to the council to devise a quick defense response" After members voted in March to denounce Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Daniel Forte, an analyst at the International Crisis Group, told AFP that taking into account the possibility of Russia and China using their veto power, the text "It faces great difficulties in passing through the Security Council"

He explained: "It is difficult to see them supporting a resolution that treats Strait stability solely as a security dilemma, ignoring the urgent need to reach a lasting political settlement that puts an end to hostilities."

Oil and Gas

Before its closure, about a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passed through the Strait of Hormuz.

Consequently, this affects global supplies of vital commodities such as oil, LNG and fertilizer, and leads to sharp rises in energy prices.

Security Council resolutions authorizing member states to use force are relatively rare.

During the Second Gulf War, a public vote allowed 1990 A US-led coalition intervenes in Iraq after the invasion of Kuwait. In 2011, a similar vote allowed NATO intervention in Libya and the fall of Muammar Gaddafi.