India, Israel oppose UN arms control resolution

The United Nations General Assembly's First Committee approved a draft resolution on conventional arms control at regional and subregional levels, with 180 votes in favor, two against, and no abstentions.

India and Israel were the only two countries to oppose the resolution among the 193-member UN body. The resolution, titled 'General and Complete Disarmament: Conventional Arms Control at the Regional and Subregional Levels,' was introduced by Pakistan and Belarus.

India's Permanent Mission to the UN explained its vote through a statement by Anmol Sher Bedi, First Secretary, who said conventional arms control is a global issue and should not be confined to regional contexts.

Bedi noted that the UN Disarmament Commission had already adopted consensus guidelines on regional disarmament in 1993, 1999, and 2017, making the resolution's call for new deliberations unclear.

India also objected to the resolution's emphasis on balancing defense capabilities within regions, arguing that security concerns extend beyond regional borders and that maintaining such balance is unrealistic.

The resolution argues that most post-Cold War threats to peace and security arise within regions or subregions and calls for agreements to strengthen regional peace and security with minimal armaments.