India and Israel vote against UNGA draft on arms control
New Delhi stated that security concerns of states are not confined within regional boundaries during the United Nations vote.
India and Israel were the only two countries to vote against a draft resolution on conventional arms control at regional and subregional levels in the 193-member United Nations body, according to The Hindu.
The draft resolution, proposed by Pakistan and Belarus, was approved by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) First Committee on Monday, November 2, 2026, with 180 votes in favour and two against.
Explaining the decision, Anmol Sher Bedi, First Secretary at India’s Permanent Mission to the UN, said conventional arms control is a global issue and that New Delhi was not convinced it should be pursued primarily in regional contexts.
Bedi noted that the vote was consistent with India's past position and questioned why the UN Disarmament Commission was being asked to formulate new principles when it had already adopted consensus guidelines in 1993, 1999, and 2017.
The Indian official also objected to the resolution's approach to maintaining a balance in defence capabilities, stating that security concerns extend beyond narrowly-defined regions and that preserving such a balance appears unrealistic.
India also separately voted against a paragraph that noted with particular interest proposals for conventional arms control made in the context of South Asia.
