US-China clash over drafting Afghanistan resolution at UN signals growing diplomatic tensions

A U.S. think tank focused on security and democracy issues reports growing tensions between Washington and Beijing over who should draft the United Nations Security Council resolutions on Afghanistan. This dispute has intensified in recent weeks.

The issue revolves around which country should act as the Security Council “penholder” on Afghanistan. Penholders are responsible for drafting and negotiating resolutions, holding significant influence over international peace operations and sanctions.

The analysis, published by the “Just Security” organization on February 14, highlights how the disagreement is not only about the U.N.’s approach to the Taliban but also about China’s rising role in the Security Council under the Trump administration.

Richard Gowan, the author of the report, explains that the argument over which country should take responsibility for drafting Afghanistan resolutions has become a major diplomatic row between the U.S. and China.

The issue is significant because the country that drafts the resolutions has substantial influence over the terms and political-legal aspects used in the text. The dispute has complicated the U.N.’s decision-making process.

China has several reasons for focusing on Afghanistan and the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). Beijing sees maintaining a U.N. presence in the country as aligned with its interests, particularly regarding security and terrorism and mineral resources. It also sees a continuing UN presence as beneficial to its strategic goals in the region.

Tensions escalated in recent weeks when China and Pakistan proposed a resolution to extend UNAMA’s mandate for another year. This sparked further disagreements, with the U.S. and South Korea presenting alternative proposals.

The dispute over the Afghanistan’s resolution draft reflects broader geopolitical tensions between China and the U.S. in multilateral security. This disagreement could have long-term impacts on how the U.N. engages with Afghanistan.

As China continues to assert its influence, particularly in Afghanistan, the challenge of managing global security issues within the U.N. becomes more complex. This ongoing dispute over the Afghanistan resolution is emblematic of the growing Sino-American rivalry in international diplomacy.

The U.S. fears China’s increasing influence, especially in the Security Council, and sees it as a challenge to its global leadership.

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