S/PV.10044 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2025/650, which contains a letter dated 15 October 2025 from the Panel of Experts on Yemen addressed to the President of the Security Council. Members of the Council have before them document S/2025/736, which contains the text of a draft resolution submitted by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now.

The draft resolution received 13 votes in favour, none against and 2 abstentions. The draft resolution has been adopted as resolution 2801 (2025). I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements after the voting.

Today’s adoption underlines the Security Council’s continued commitment to advancing peace and stability in Yemen. Resolution 2801 (2025) will support the Council’s ability to monitor, and therefore deter, violations of the arms embargo. In so doing, it will help constrain the Houthis’ capacity to destabilize Yemen and threaten regional maritime security, while avoiding negatively affecting the humanitarian situation for the people of Yemen. We welcome Council members’ support in ensuring that the sanctions regime evolves to reflect the increasing complexity and scale of Houthi smuggling and financing. This includes looking more at issues such as the transfer of dual-use components to the Houthis and the mechanisms for vessels suspected of carrying arms or related materiel. We continue to call for the Committee established pursuant to resolution 2140 (2014) to coordinate with other relevant sanctions committees to closely monitor cross-border arms flows, financial transactions and personnel movements between Yemen, Al-Shabaab and designated groups in the Sudan.

Currently, with the achievement of a ceasefire in Gaza and an easing of the situation in the Middle East, the settlement of issues related to Yemen and the Red Sea is taking a positive turn. China has consistently advocated settling the Yemeni issue through political and diplomatic means and calls upon all parties concerned to seize current opportunities, resume dialogue and negotiations without delay and restart the peace process in Yemen. The international community should foster conditions conducive to this end and actively promote peace talks. The Security Council sanctions regime related to Yemen will expire on 15 November. We support the technical renewal of the regime. However, a certain country, 10 days before the expiry, suddenly proposed maritime interdictions, which will authorize Member States to inspect vessels in the Red Sea and surrounding waters on the basis of so-called reasonable grounds. The relevant measures are unclear in their standards, provide for no supervision of their implementation and are quite arbitrary. In particular, they run counter to the exclusive jurisdiction of flag States over vessels flying their flags. In practice, they contain many defects that are highly susceptible to abuse by a certain country. This will severely affect the freedom of navigation and maritime transport and even have an impact on the normal order of international trade, infringing upon the rights of countries to engage in international trade in accordance with international law. Although that content of the resolution just put to the vote (resolution 2801 (2025)) was toned down, the specific language is clearly directional and still makes promoting the establishment of maritime interdictions its ultimate objective. China has serious reservations over this and had to abstain in the vote. The Panel of Experts of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 2140 (2014) will present a report on improving information-sharing and flag State capacity. We hope that the Panel will strictly observe its mandate; follow an objective, impartial, professional and responsible approach; produce its report on the basis of lessons carefully drawn from relevant maritime practice and taking into account fully the views of Council members; and formulate constructive views and recommendations. The recommendations should be conducive to the political settlement of the Yemeni issue, instead of escalating tensions or provoking confrontations.

The United States voted in favour of today’s resolution (resolution 2801 (2025)) to renew the Yemen sanctions regime and the mandate of the Panel of Experts. We believe these measures remain essential to deterring threats to peace and stability in Yemen and the broader region. The Panel’s work is critical to exposing violations of the arms embargo and to holding those responsible for fuelling the conflict to account. We welcome the new requirements for the Panel to report on the flow of dual-use components and precursor chemicals that enable the Houthis’ weapons programme. These materials, often sourced from outside Yemen, have allowed the Houthis to develop increasingly sophisticated drones and missiles, threatening international shipping and the safety of civilians across the region. The Panel’s advice on how to better control these flows, including what should be restricted by United Nations Member States, will be vital to strengthening the arms embargo and protecting global commerce. We support the resolution’s call for the Panel to provide recommendations on improving maritime interdictions as well. The Houthis’ attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden have endangered lives and disrupted international trade. Enhanced information-sharing and stronger flag State enforcement measures We are disappointed that the Council did not direct the Panel to report more explicitly on the flow of resources between Yemen and Somalia, including between the Houthis and Al-Shabaab. The United States also laments the missed opportunity to address importation of dual-use items, oil smuggling and increasing maritime interdictions — violations raised in the Panel’s report (see S/2025/650). For years, the United Nations has imposed a freeze on assets to limit the flow of resources to Al-Shabaab, yet there is still no similar United Nations assets freeze to cut off funding to the Houthi terrorist organization. This is a missed opportunity to address a critical source of instability. In addition, while we voted to adopt today’s resolution, I want to express the continued frustration of the United States Government with the efforts to push distracting and divisive language on gender. President Trump has made clear that the United States will use clear and accurate language and policies that recognize that women are biologically female and men are biologically male. The language in this resolution advancing gender-specific initiatives does nothing to advance Yemen’s security or prosperity. The United States remains committed to working with Council members to use all available tools, including sanctions, to support a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Yemen and to safeguard international peace and security.

The Russian Federation abstained in the voting on the United Kingdom-drafted resolution (resolution 2801 (2025)) renewing the United Nations Security Council sanctions regime against Yemen for another 12 months and extending the mandate of the Panel of Experts supporting the Committee established pursuant to resolution 2140 (2014). We recall that sanctions, one of the most powerful tools in the Security Council’s arsenal, are primarily designed to facilitate political settlement and advance peace and stability on the ground. It is unacceptable to use sanctions to further parochial political agendas or to punish or exert undue pressure on certain parties. The Yemeni context is no exception. The highly politicized approach adopted by our Western colleagues only distances us further from returning the settlement process to a peaceful diplomatic track. The resolution adopted today is replete with numerous unbalanced and one-sided passages that openly antagonize one of the parties to the Yemeni conflict. Moreover, the language of the resolution effectively paves the way for a future tightening of the sanctions regime against Yemen. We cannot support such an approach. We see no alternative to an inclusive inter-Yemeni dialogue involving all influential political forces on the ground, including Ansar Allah. The Special Envoy of the Secretary-General, Mr. Hans Grundberg, has a key mediating role to play in facilitating this process. Given the favourable conditions that have emerged in the Middle East, we urge him to immediately step up efforts to reconcile the Yemeni stakeholders and establish sustainable mechanisms for interaction between them. We emphasize that it is crucial to ensure the active participation of Yemen’s regional partners — Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iran and Oman.

I have the honour to deliver this explanation of position statement on behalf of the three African members of the Security Council, namely, Algeria, Sierra Leone and my own country, Somalia, as well as Guyana (A3+). The A3+ welcomes today’s adoption of resolution 2801 (2025), which renews for an additional year the sanction regime established pursuant to resolution 2140 (2014), We thank the penholder for his efforts during the negotiations. While we acknowledge some improvement to the text, which reflected some of our edits, we regret that other proposals of the group are not reflected in the final version of the resolution. The A3+ voted in favour of this text to reiterate the importance we attach to the work of the 2140 Committee and supporting the political process in Yemen. The group believes that holding accountable those individuals and entities that threaten the peace, security and stability of Yemen is paramount and conducive to a sustainable peace in Yemen. The group expresses concern about the air strikes against Yemen, in particular, Hudaydah, and urges all parties to exercise caution and restraint to avoid further escalation of the situation in the Red Sea and the broader region. The A3+ reaffirms its unwavering commitment to Yemen’s unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and stresses that these principles must remain at the core of all international efforts concerning Yemen. We urge all Yemeni parties to engage sincerely and constructively under the auspices of United Nations in order to bring the conflict to an end and achieve an inclusive political settlement based on the agreed terms of reference. The A3+ remains deeply concerned about the continued detention of United Nations personnel by the Houthis. Such actions are unacceptable and constitute a serious violation that undermines the ability of the United Nations to carry out its vital mandate in Yemen. In that regard, we reiterate our call for an immediate and unconditional release of all detained United Nations staff. In conclusion, the A3+ looks forward to the full implementation of this resolution and renews its firm commitment to supporting efforts aimed at restoring peace, stability and security in Yemen and alleviating the suffering of its people.

France voted in favour of renewing the sanctions regime established by resolution 2140 (2014). I have four points to make in that regard. First, we would like to thank the British penholder for its constant efforts to engage in consultation and compromise. Its efforts made possible the adoption of resolution 2801 (2025). This sanctions regime remains an essential tool to promote and ensure regional peace and stability throughout the region. The adoption of this resolution sends a clear political signal: the behaviour of the Houthis is unacceptable. It runs counter to international law and hinders any political progress in Yemen. In that context, a robust sanctions regime is an essential lever to pressure the Houthis to engage effectively in the political inter-Yemeni process. Secondly, we regret, however, that the text adopted is not more ambitious and does not reflect the worsening situation in Yemen over the past year. The initial proposals aimed at strengthening controls on dual-use components and introducing maritime interdiction measures, which constitute the best means to fully enforce the arms embargo, were consistent with the recommendations of the Panel of Experts of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 2140 (2014). These issues will need to be revisited in the light of the reports that the Panel of Experts will present in April 2026. Thirdly, we welcome the inclusion in the text of resolution 2801 (2025) the condemnation of arbitrary detentions of United Nations personnel and humanitarian workers carried out by the Houthis, which illustrates the need to maintain and, ultimately, to strengthen the pressure exerted by the Council. Fifty-nine United Nations personnel are currently being unlawfully detained alongside numerous humanitarian workers and non-governmental organization staff. We condemn these Finally, I would like to reaffirm France’s full support for the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General, Mr. Hans Grundberg, and his efforts to pave the way for the resumption of an inter-Yemeni political process, the only means to sustainably end the conflict. We call upon all the parties to engage in this process in good faith.

Denmark voted in favour of resolution 2801 (2025), in support of a continuation of the targeted sanctions regime on Yemen. We commend the efforts of the United Kingdom in seeking to bridge the various positions expressed throughout the negotiations. The sanctions regime established pursuant to resolution 2140 (2014) remains a vital tool in preventing further escalation in the Red Sea and in Yemen, in furtherance of efforts to advance the political process. Despite the arms embargo, the Houthis have continued to expand their power and capabilities. With support from their allies, they are relentlessly circumventing the sanctions regime by smuggling weapons and adapting their supply chains, which risks further destabilizing the region, undermining the freedom of navigation and threatening maritime security in the Red Sea. The sanctions regime that we just renewed is an important step and a testament to the commitment of the Council to maintain pressure on the Houthis. We are also pleased that the strengthened language on due process is now included in the resolution. That is essential for accountability across all sanctions regimes and an issue that Denmark will continue to champion. Denmark calls on all States to fully respect and uphold all aspects of this sanctions regime, including the arms embargo, asset freeze and travel ban measures. We must keep up the pressure on those who continue to threaten efforts to advance peace in Yemen.

Pakistan voted in favour of today’s resolution (resolution 2801 (2025)), which extends for one year the sanctions regime established under resolution 2140 (2014), together with the mandate of the Panel of Experts supporting the Committee’s work. We appreciate the efforts of the United Kingdom during the negotiation process. Pakistan supported the resolution in order to reaffirm the importance we attach to the 2140 Committee. Ensuring accountability for individuals and entities that jeopardize Yemen’s stability and security remains essential to laying the foundation for durable and sustainable peace. At the same time, it is important to note that the Panel of Experts has to operate under the direction of the Committee. It is imperative to uphold this fundamental principle and adjust reporting procedures accordingly, with a view to ensuring that the Panel carries out its mandate in full consistency with the letter and the spirit of resolution 2140 (2014). Pakistan reaffirms its steadfast support for Yemen’s unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. These principles must guide all international engagements on the Yemeni file. We further encourage all Yemeni parties to engage constructively and in good faith under the United Nations auspices to bring an end to the conflict through an inclusive, negotiated political settlement based on the agreed parameters. We also urge all parties to act with the utmost restraint and avoid steps that could exacerbate tensions in the Red Sea region and beyond. Pakistan strongly condemns the continued detention of the United Nations personnel, humanitarian workers and diplomatic staff by Houthis and calls for their immediate and unconditional release. In closing, Pakistan reaffirms its full support for the United Nations-led peace process and all efforts aimed at restoring peace, stability and security in Yemen and alleviating the profound humanitarian suffering of its people.

The Republic of Korea voted in favour of this resolution (resolution 2801 (2025)). At the outset, we express our appreciation to the penholder, the United Kingdom, for its tireless efforts in fostering the Council’s unity. Throughout the year, we have witnessed serious Houthi attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea, employing an increasingly advanced weapon system. As clearly revealed in the final report of the Panel of Experts on Yemen (see S/2024/731), it is well known that weapons and related materials continue to be transferred to the Houthis, in violation of the arms embargo. No one can deny that such developments undermine the peace and stability in Yemen that we collectively seek. That said, the Republic of Korea welcomes the adoption of the resolution. It sends an unequivocal message that the Security Council is closely monitoring actions that fuel instability in Yemen and the region. In addition, the resolution demonstrates the Council’s readiness to explore further ways to ensure that its decisions are implemented in a more effective manner. The Security Council resolution, including the arms embargo, must be fully and faithfully implemented as designed to prevent further escalation and help restore stability in the Red Sea and the wider region. As Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 2140 (2014), the Republic of Korea will continue to steadfastly carry out its responsibility during the remainder of its Council tenure. The Committee is now discussing actions in response to the recommendations contained in the final report of the Panel of Experts. The Republic of Korea will help advance common efforts to ensure that these discussions remain constructive and contribute to peace and stability in Yemen.

Greece welcomes the renewal of the mandate of the Yemen sanctions regime. We voted in favour of the resolution just adopted (resolution 2801 (2025)) because we are convinced that it remains an important tool to deter threats to the peace, stability and security of Yemen and the broader area. We thank the penholder, the United Kingdom, for its leadership during the negotiations. The agreement on today’s adoption of a one-year renewal of the mandate sends a clear signal that the Council continues to consider resolution 2140 (2014) a crucial tool to prevent the illicit traffic of advanced weaponry and training to the Houthis consistent with resolutions 2216 (2015) and 2624 (2022). We call on all Member States to respect and fully implement the targeted arms embargo in this respect. We remain concerned by the volatile security situation in and around Yemen. Today’s renewal of the Yemen sanctions regime maintains pressure on the Houthis to eventually engage constructively in a peace process in Yemen. To this end, Greece fully supports the efforts of Special Envoy Hans Grundberg to reinvigorate the political dialogue. An inclusive Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned peace process, under United Nations auspices, with full respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of Yemen, is the only sustainable, viable way forward.

The Republic of Panama would like to express its appreciation to the United Kingdom for its outstanding efforts, leadership and commitment in guiding and drafting the text of the resolution (resolution 2801 (2025)) to renew the sanctions regime on Yemen. Panama voted in favour of the resolution to renew this sanctions regime because it is of the view that it is useful in maintaining the Security Council’s sustained attention on the situation in Yemen, a multidimensional military, political, economic and humanitarian conflict which continues to seriously affect the civilian population and regional stability. Sanctions continue to play a fundamental role by enabling the Council’s actions to be technically focused. In this regard, we consider it important to reaffirm the need to evaluate these mechanisms upon each renewal in order to increase their effectiveness and responsiveness to threats to international peace and security. The reports presented by the Panel of Experts have underscored the evolution of the conflict and the widening of its impact, which makes it even more urgent to adapt our actions to the new realities on the ground. Therefore, we are committed to using these multilateral tools in a selective and focused manner so as to ensure their effective implementation within the framework of international law. Our vote in favour of the resolution is also based on my country’s firm commitment to international maritime security. As a maritime nation, we vigorously condemn the attacks perpetrated against commercial vessels in the Red Sea by the Houthis. Those acts of violence seriously jeopardize international maritime security and compromise freedom of navigation, directly affecting global supply chains and the delivery of humanitarian assistance, which the region so desperately needs. Panama also condemns the attacks against humanitarian workers, non-governmental organizations and United Nations personnel, as well as their arbitrary and unjustified detention. In this regard, we urgently call for the immediate and safe release of all detained personnel and for full respect for international humanitarian law and the protection of civilian personnel undertaking essential work on the ground.