-lets Russia off the hook
In a day of high drama, Guyana yesterday voted in favour of a US-sponsored resolution at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) which did not condemn Russia’s role in invading Ukraine.
Guyana’s decision at the most important UN forum will raise eyebrows in light of continuing Venezuelan aggression on the Western frontier and concerns that Georgetown is trying to appease Washington.
The US-drafted resolution takes a neutral position on the conflict as US President Donald Trump seeks a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.
The short resolution reflects Trump’s overturning of a longstanding US position on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Of the 15 members on the UN Security Council, 10 voted in favour of the US resolution. These were the US, China, Russia, Guyana, Algeria, Pakistan, Panama, Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone and Somalia. Five European countries abstained: Britain, France, Slovenia, Denmark and Greece.
The UNSC has not yielded significant action on the Ukraine war as Russia has a veto as a permanent member.
Earlier in the day , Guyana voted in favour of two duelling resolutions at the United Nations General Assembly. The US sponsored one called for peace and the other sponsored by Kyiv and European countries reaffirmed Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The U.S.-sponsored resolution, titled “The Path to Peace,” aimed to promote a diplomatic framework for ending the conflict. While Guyana initially abstained from voting on an amendment condemning Russia’s actions, a yes vote was cast ultimately in favour of the final amended resolution, which was adopted with 93 voting yes, 8 No’s and 73 abstentions.
Antigua and Grenada abstained on the US resolution, The Bahamas and Dominica did not vote while Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad voted in favour.
Additionally, Guyana supported the pro-Ukraine resolution titled “Advancing a Comprehensive, Just, and Lasting Peace in Ukraine.” This resolution called for the immediate withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine and reaffirmed Ukraine’s sovereignty. It was adopted with 93 votes in favour, 18 against, and 65 abstentions.
Among the CARICOM nations, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago voted in favour of the “Advancing a Comprehensive, Just, and Lasting Peace in Ukraine” resolution. Meanwhile, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines abstained, and Haiti voted against.
