Question

Amidst the brutal civil war in Syria between pro-government forces and anti-government forces, the Security Council took a decision to deliver aid from across the border to the civilians in need. Out of 15 members of the Security Council, 13 members supported the decision. However, two members voted against the decision and cast their veto vote. Identify the two countries that could have revoked this decision.

• A. France & Germany
• B. Russia and China
• C. India & Russia
• D. China & India

Answer 1

The correct option is B Russia and China

The UN Security Council consists of 15 countries. It has five permanent members and ten non-permanent members. The permanent members of UNSC are France, China, Russia, United Kingdom, and USA. The permanent members have been vested with a power to veto any decision of the UNSC. Thus, any resolution to be passed in the UNSC has to be passed by the permanent members and thus require nine favourable votes out of 15.

In the above given scenario, only the two permanent members of UNSC could have blocked the decision of the council to deliver aid from across the border to the civilians in Syria. Thus, it was Russia and China that voted this decision of the council.