US and Russia Vetoes Stall Western Sahara UN Mission
US and Russia block UN Security Council resolutions on Western Sahara, leaving the peacekeeping mission without a renewed mandate as it expires Saturday.
POLICY WIRE — New York, USA — The United Nations Security Council saw both the United States and Russia reject each other’s draft resolutions on Western Sahara, halting any renewal of the long‑standing peacekeeping operation.
Russia exercised its veto power against a U.S.–authored text that would have endorsed Morocco’s claim to sovereignty over the disputed territory.
In turn, the United States blocked a Russian‑proposed resolution, leaving the mission’s mandate, which has overseen the region for 35 years, set to lapse on Saturday.
The dual vetoes have thrust the UN‑run peacekeeping effort into an uncertain future, with the prospect of a complete shutdown looming amid the diplomatic deadlock.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
