UN Committee Passes Russian Draft Labeling Western Sanctions as Modern Colonialism

On October 15, the UN General Assembly’s Fourth Committee, which handles decolonisation issues, adopted a Russian-sponsored draft resolution (A/C.4/81/L.5) that characterises unilateral economic, financial or trade measures as modern colonialism. The vote tally was 85 in favour, 49 against and 23 abstentions, with the majority of African and Global South states backing the text and the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Israel, Ukraine and the entire European Union bloc voting against it.

All BRICS members, as well as several Middle Eastern and Asian countries, voted for the draft, while a handful of European nations abstained. The resolution defines contemporary colonialism to include sanctions, export controls and market restrictions that violate international law, and calls for greater international cooperation to reduce structural inequality. It was presented by a Russian delegate on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defence of the Charter of the United Nations, which includes China, Cuba and Iran.

The committee’s approval is not final; the proposal now proceeds to the full General Assembly for consideration. The vote underscores Moscow’s ongoing campaign to reframe Western sanctions as neo-colonial tools and to strengthen its influence among developing nations.