Recent events have seen India abstaining from a few critical United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, raising eyebrows on the international stage. The most recent occurrence involves a resolution sponsored by Russia, accusing the US and Ukraine of engaging in “military biological activities” that breach the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). Prior to this, India abstained from another UNSC resolution aimed at declaring Russia’s annexation of four Ukrainian territories invalid.
Understanding the Biological Weapon Convention (BWC)
Biological weapons employ microbiological agents such as bacteria, viruses or fungi, or toxins to deliberately cause harm or death to humans, animals, or plants. Formally named, “The Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and their Destruction,” the BWC came into force on March 26th, 1975, following negotiations by the Conference of the Committee on Disarmament in Geneva, Switzerland.
The treaty effectively prohibits the development, production, procurement, transfer, stockpiling and use of biological and toxin weapons. It plays a vital role in international efforts to address the proliferation of the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). Additionally, it was the first multilateral disarmament treaty banning an entire category of WMD, supplementing the 1925 Geneva Protocol, which only banned the use of biological and chemical weapons in warfare. Currently, there are 184 States Parties and four Signatory States to the BWC, including India.
Decoding UN Resolutions
Formal expressions of the opinion or will of UN organs are referred to as UN Resolutions and decisions. Their binding nature varies depending on the type of resolution. While General Assembly resolutions are generally considered “recommendations”, resolutions adopted by the UNSC under Chapter VII of the Charter are deemed binding, as outlined in Article 25 of the Charter. However, they can be vetoed by permanent members of UNSC.
India’s Stand on Previous UN Resolutions Involving Russia and Ukraine
In relation to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, India has abstained from voting on several critical UN Resolutions. These include a US-sponsored UNSC resolution condemning Russia’s actions against Ukraine, a Russian-drafted UNSC resolution calling for a negotiated ceasefire to facilitate civilian evacuation in Ukraine, and a UNGA resolution censuring Russia for its military actions in Ukraine, among others. Notably, alongside India, 34 other nations including China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, along with Central Asian and some African countries, also abstained from this resolution.
PYQs Related to International Relations
A few questions related to international relations previously posed in the UPSC Civil Services Examination include distinguishing between the “Australia Group” and the “Wassenaar Arrangement”, two multilateral export control regimes, and discussing the challenges India faces in its quest to acquire a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.
