German Foreign Minister Wadephul criticises UN Security Council over inaction

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has criticised the United Nations Security Council for its inability to take decisions due to the veto power held by individual countries.

According to dpa, ahead of his visit to New York, he urged members of the Security Council to fulfil their responsibilities, stressing that the UN must remain the “central core of diplomacy” amid the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.

He said the Council’s work is regularly blocked due to disagreements between member states.

Wadephul also expressed Germany’s readiness to participate in a security mission in the Strait of Hormuz, provided that hostilities come to an end. According to him, Berlin is seeking a UN mandate for such an operation.

The German foreign minister further warned that delays in negotiations between the United States and Iran could lead to the continuation of the conflict with global consequences.

The UN Security Council remains the only UN body whose decisions are binding and may include sanctions or the use of force. It consists of five permanent members with veto power — the United Kingdom, China, France, Russia, and the United States — as well as ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.

By Vugar Khalilov