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Speech

Russia’s decision to veto this draft resolution risks setting back progress on the political process for the Western Sahara: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Explanation of Vote by Sarah MacIntosh, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Western Sahara.

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Dame Sarah MacIntosh DCMG
Published:
30 October 2026
Location:
United Nations, New York
Delivered on:
(Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

The United Kingdom expresses immense disappointment at Russia’s decision to veto this draft resolution. 

That decision undermines the Council’s action on this file, jeopardises the deployment of the UN Mission, and risks setting back progress on the political process for the Western Sahara.

We commend US leadership on this resolution and welcome work of Personal Envoy de Mistura to advance the political process.

We urge Council members to approach the question of Western Sahara in the interests of accelerating progress toward a just, lasting, and mutually agreed solution that meaningfully provides the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.

We reiterate our position that Morocco’s 2007 autonomy proposal is the most credible, viable, and pragmatic basis for a lasting resolution of the dispute.