The corridors of the UN Security Council witnessed intensive activity last Friday, led by Britain with direct support from the United States and France, in an attempt to pass an expanded sanctions draft resolution viewed by Sana’a and several regional states as an escalatory step aimed at tightening the sanctions imposed on Yemen and widening the scope of the economic and humanitarian blockade on the country.

“Targeting the Political Entity Governing Sana’a”

The proposed draft resolution reclassifies sanctions so that they are no longer limited to specific individuals or leaders, but instead include Ansar Allah as a ruling political entity. This effectively means targeting the Sana’a government and its areas of control, treating it as a party subject to comprehensive sanctions that could reach administrative structures and civilian institutions.

“The New Inspection Mechanism… A Step Toward a Full Blockade”

Through the draft, London and Washington seek to replace the UN inspection mechanism in Djibouti with Western international forces overseeing everything entering Yemeni ports, including Hodeidah and Aden.

According to observers, this shift opens the door to a full economic blockade affecting food, fuel, and medicine, aiming to suffocate what remains of Yemen’s economy after the failure of the military option.

“Condemning Operations in the Red Sea… Indirect Support for Israel”

The draft resolution includes a condemnation of Yemeni operations targeting ships linked to Israel, despite the cessation of their transit since the start of the Gaza ceasefire.

Analysts consider this condemnation a political stance aligned with Israeli military operations—described by international organizations and the United Nations as amounting to acts of genocide against Palestinian civilians—while disregarding the principles of international humanitarian law.

“Russia’s Position: Unbalanced Wording Undermines the Political Track”

Russia abstained from voting, expressing clear reservations. It considered the text of the draft to contain “unbalanced and one-sided language” that would provoke one of the main parties to the Yemeni conflict and undermine prospects for progress toward a comprehensive political solution.

Moscow believes that tightening sanctions at this stage could lead to further escalation and make returning to the negotiation table more complicated for Yemeni parties.

“China’s Position: Concerns Over the Militarization of the Red Sea”

China opposed the draft, focusing on the dangers of authorizing international forces to carry out “boarding and maritime inspection measures” in the Red Sea without clear standards or oversight mechanisms.

Beijing views this step as inconsistent with the legal jurisdiction of the flag state and a threat to freedom of navigation and global trade in one of the world’s most critical waterways, in addition to the risk of violating the rights of coastal states and further complicating the security situation.

China affirmed that addressing tensions in the Red Sea cannot be separated from ending the war on Gaza and restoring regional stability, which it considers a prerequisite for creating a suitable environment for a political settlement in Yemen.

“Humanitarian Implications of the Resolution”

Human rights groups warned that adopting the draft would have led to a new humanitarian catastrophe, effectively imposing a comprehensive economic and humanitarian blockade that would deepen suffering and revive scenes of long queues for gas, fuel, wheat, and medicine in a country living through one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

“The Role of Moscow and Beijing in Blocking Escalation”

Russia and China contributed to preventing the resolution from passing in its current form, curbing a dangerous attempt to undermine what remains of Yemen’s sovereignty and keeping the old sanctions regime in place for another year without expansion or amendment despite Western pressure.

“Possible Escalation Scenarios Ahead”

The coming trajectory remains dependent on U.S. and British conduct, especially as Sana’a continues to abide by the Gaza ceasefire despite Israeli violations and despite international calls to lift the blockade on Yemen and end policies that worsen the humanitarian crisis.

International reports warn that any new escalation could ignite a wide-scale confrontation in the Red Sea, with security and economic repercussions felt across the world.

“Eritrea Enters the Scene”

Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki presented a notable stance, asserting that Sana’a does not pose a threat to Red Sea security and placing responsibility for regional instability on global powers with military ambitions, which are building bases and spheres of influence on the islands of Socotra, Mayun, and Zuqar, and near the Bab al-Mandab Strait to expand their military and political presence.

The attempt to pass the British draft reveals a Western trend to reinforce dominance over strategic waterways and impose new realities that serve their strategic interests at the expense of the security of Red Sea littoral states and Yemen’s stability.

If the United States and Britain continue using the Security Council to impose unilateral decisions, the region may be headed toward a major confrontation that the entire world will pay for, amid fragile regional balances and escalating global conflicts.