United States Mission to the United Nations
Ambassador Dorothy Shea
Acting U.S. Representative
New York, New York
July 22, 2025
AS DELIVERED
Thank you, Deputy Prime Minister Dar, for convening this important debate. And I also thank the Secretary-General for his briefing.
Eighty years ago, in the wake of the devastation of two world wars, the United States convened the nations of the world to envision a better future. They formed the United Nations with the aim of “saving succeeding generations from the scourge of war.”
Those nations recognized that even in a peaceful world, disputes would still arise among states – but they determined that disputes could, and must, be resolved peacefully.
The United States firmly believes in this basic founding principle enshrined in the UN Charter. Across the globe, the United States continues to work with parties to disputes, wherever possible, to find peaceful solutions.
In the past three months alone, we have seen U.S. leadership deliver de-escalations between Israel and Iran, between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, and between India and Pakistan. The United States, under President Trump’s leadership, played an important role in encouraging the parties to reach these resolutions, which we applaud and support.
We call on all UN member states involved in disputes or conflicts to follow the example of those countries and to make every effort to resolve their disputes and cease violence.
Mr. President, in particular, we call for a ceasefire in Ukraine. Russia must cease its attacks on civilians and fulfil its obligations under the Charter. We call on other UN member states to stop providing Russia with the means to continue its aggression. The war must end.
Mr. President, for peaceful dispute settlement processes to be credible, their outcomes must be implemented. We again call on China to abide by the 2016 ruling of the Arbitral Tribunal convened under the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention, which is both final and legally binding on China and the Philippines.
For nine years now, China has refused to live up to its obligations as a party to the Convention. Instead, China has continued to publicly reject the ruling, interfere with the exercise of high seas freedoms as reflected in the Convention, and assert expansive and unlawful claims that infringe on the sovereign rights and jurisdictions of other South China Sea littoral states, including the Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam.
We once again condemn China’s expansive and unlawful maritime claims in the South China Sea, and the dangerous and destabilizing ways it attempts to enforce them.
Colleagues, over the years, the international community has developed robust mechanisms to help states reach agreements.
However, some of these mechanisms are flawed, as they are subject to bias against particular countries, or seek to exceed their jurisdiction to the detriment of the sovereignty of all states – another principle in the UN Charter. The United States staunchly opposes such overreach, even as we support true contributions to international peace and security.
It is critically important that institutions and structures aimed at facilitating the peaceful settlement of disputes operate with due regard for state sovereignty and the principles enshrined in the UN Charter.
The United States is ready to continue working with the United Nations and with other UN member states to support peaceful means of resolving differences. I thank you.
Source: MyPR International
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