What Is Veto Rights, Functions And Goals, As Well As Examples

YOGYAKARTA - What is veto right? As recorded in history, the United Nations Security Council (DK PBB) was formed after World War II. This formation aims to maintain international peace and security. One of the main mechanisms incorporated into the UN Charter is veto rights.

veto rights have a root word from Latin veto which means 'I forbid.' In the context of politics and government, veto rights are special powers that allow a person or an entity to refuse or overturn decisions, even though the decision has been agreed upon by many parties.

veto rights are also often associated with powers of major countries in international organizations, such as the United Nations (UN). In the UN Security Council, five permanent member countries (United States, Russia, China, France, and Britain) have veto rights, which allow the five countries to cancel the proposed resolution, no matter how many other countries provide support.

Outside the United Nations, the application of veto rights is also carried out in various government systems. For example, in the United States, the president has the right to veto to reject the draft law that has been proposed by Congress. However, this veto can be canceled if the majority of the two-thirds members of Congress vote to re-avert it.

In general, veto rights are used as a means of control and balance in the system of government or international organizations. Despite providing protection against decisions that are considered detrimental to others, veto rights also often receive criticism because they have the potential to hinder decision-making important for global interests.

Since 1945, veto has been used more than 300 times. According to the Security Council Report records, at the beginning of the Cold War, the Soviet Union used it the most, while the United States mostly used veto related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Competition between the United States and the Soviet Union has colored the early decade of UN DK. The Soviet Union often blocked the entry of new countries that are considered pro-West. On the other hand, the United States often veto drafts for resolutions that pressure Israel. This pattern made the Council repeatedly run into deadlocks.

veto rights play an important role in the political system, both at the national and international levels. In general, this right serves as a control tool and a power balancer so that decisions taken do not cause certain parties to suffer losses. Some of the main functions of veto rights include:

One of the main goals of granting veto rights at the United Nations is to prevent major conflicts between countries. With the emergence of veto rights, big countries can avoid decisions that can trigger geopolitical or even war tensions.

veto rights allow a party to reject decisions that are considered unfair or detrimental. In the context of the UN Security Council, veto rights are exploited by permanent member states to avoid policies that risk threatening their national interests.

veto rights are also useful as a tool to force parties with interests to discuss and reach consensus before making a decision. Because a veto can thwart a resolution, countries often negotiate in advance so that excessive use of veto rights can be avoided.

In the national government system, veto rights are often used by executive leaders (such as presidents) to reject policies that are considered not to side with the interests of the people or against state principles. For example, in the United States government system, the president can take advantage of veto rights to reject draft laws that are deemed inconsistent with the public interest.

The Palestinian effort to become a full member of the United Nations was hampered by veto. Quoted from the official UN report, on April 18, 2024, the draft resolution proposed by Algeria failed after the United States used its veto rights.

Of the 15 members of the Council, 12 support, while Britain and Switzerland abstain. The resolution will recommend to the General Assembly that the Palestinian State be accepted as a member of the United Nations. However, veto from the United States made the design canceled.

The United States blocked ceasefire efforts in Gaza several times. According to a UN report, one of them on November 21, 2024, the US vetoed a draft resolution calling for an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire. Fourteen other members provided support for the resolution.

The following year, a similar situation happened again. Reporting from CNA, on September 18, 2025, the United States again vetoed the ceasefire resolution. The resolution, which was prepared by ten non-permanent members, demanded the end of the war, full respect for the ceasefire, and also the release of hostages. The resolution has been the sixth US veto since the Israel-Hamas war rolled out nearly two years ago.

Reporting from Fox News, on September 26, 2025, the draft resolution proposed by China and Russia to extend the easing of Iranian sanctions for six months failed to be adopted. Only four countries support the draft, namely Algeria, Pakistan, China, and Russia.

Nine countries have rejected, including the United States, Britain, and France. Meanwhile, Guyana and South Korea abstained. This failure came after Britain, France, and Germany activated a snapback' mechanism that automatically reimposed sanctions against Iran.

The stalemate also occurred in the Syrian Conflict. From the UN report, from 2011 to 2024, Russia and China carried out veto of more than 15 resolutions regarding the Syrian conflict. The drafts blocked include issues of human rights abuses, the use of chemical weapons, and calls for a ceasefire.

veto rights are also a trigger for divisions in the West. According to a NPR report, on February 24, 2025, the UN General Assembly adopted two resolutions that asserted Russia as an aggressor in the Ukrainian invasion.

However, the United States rejected the European draft with Russia. Washington subsequently abstained from its own resolution after being successfully amended by European countries. The move reflects changes to the policies of the United States under President Donald Trump.

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