Russia's Bid to Return to U.N. Shipping Council Fails Again

Russia failed to secure enough votes to rejoin the U.N. shipping agency's governing council, marking another setback after a similar rejection at the aviation agency. The International Maritime Organization, responsible for regulating shipping safety, denied Russia's candidacy, as global political tensions remain high.

In a significant development, Russia's attempt to rejoin the U.N. shipping agency's governing council was thwarted on Friday, failing to secure the necessary votes for its candidacy. This defeat mirrors a previous setback for Moscow, which was unable to gain a spot on the United Nations aviation agency's council in September.

Both failures highlight increased international rebuke of Russia following its 2022 incursion into Ukraine. The International Maritime Organization (IMO), with its mandate to regulate shipping safety and pollution prevention, has seen Moscow as a member since 1958, consistently re-elected to its council before 2023. However, Russia could not claim one of the 40 available seats this time.

Russia's transport ministry did not provide immediate comments on the unsuccessful bid. Competing against 47 other candidates, including the United States and China, Russia was the sole nation excluded from the category focused on states with a significant interest in international shipping services. Ukraine, not vying for a council seat, vocally opposed Russia's candidacy, citing Russia's detrimental impact on global shipping safety.

(With inputs from agencies.)