Voting in The Hague: Chemical guns and rules – Life Pulse Daily

Introduction

In November 2025, the 30th Session of the Conference of the States Parties (CSP) to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) convened in The Hague, Netherlands. This pivotal meeting saw the election of members to the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) for the 2026–2028 term. Ukraine was successfully elected, while Russia, for the third consecutive year, received the lowest number of votes among candidates, signaling persistent international distrust. These results underscore a growing rift in the multilateral landscape, where principles of chemical disarmament clash with geopolitical realpolitik. The elections highlight a critical question: why has Russia repeatedly failed to secure a seat, and what role do African states play in this outcome? More broadly, this event invites reflection on the resilience of international norms against prohibited weapons and the ethical choices states face in upholding them. This article provides a comprehensive, SEO-optimized analysis of the The Hague voting, integrating verified data on chemical weapon use, historical contexts, and the strategic importance of African participation in global governance.

Key Points