An Analysis of the Sanctions Imposed by the United Nations Security Council to Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait in 1990 within the Context of International Law Legal Analysis of UN Security Council Sanctions on Iraq's 1990 Invasion of Kuwait: A Normative Study on Charter Violations and Implementation Challenges

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Raka Nazmi Alfauzan
Aryuni Yuliantiningsih
Wismaningsih

Abstract

The United Nations Security Council is the sole international body empowered to utilize both civilian and military forces to maintain global peace and security. Iraq's invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990, breached international peace. In response, the Security Council imposed economic and military sanctions. Through Resolution 678, the Security Council authorized the use of any necessary means, including military action, to compel Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait and restore Kuwaiti sovereignty. The United States-led Coalition Military used this resolution to justify unlimited military action against Iraq. This study aims to ascertain the arrangements and forms of sanctions the Security Council imposed and analyze its implementation of military sanctions against Iraq in 1991. The study employs a normative legal research approach with a prescriptive specification. The findings demonstrate that the Security Council's authority to impose sanctions is outlined in Articles 39, 41, and 42 of the UN Charter. However, in imposing military sanctions on Iraq, the Security Council failed to fulfill several Charter obligations. Firstly, it did not obtain the unanimous consent of permanent members before voting on Resolution 678, which authorized military sanctions. Secondly, no special agreement between member states was made for the transfer of military personnel or the provision of necessary facilities, as required by Article 42. Thirdly, the formation of a Military Staff Committee to command the implementation of military sanctions was not established, as obligated by Articles 45 through 47. Fourthly, this sanction was not implemented by the principles of peaceful dispute resolution.

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How to Cite
Alfauzan, R. N., Yuliantiningsih , A., & Wismaningsih. (2026). An Analysis of the Sanctions Imposed by the United Nations Security Council to Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait in 1990 within the Context of International Law: Legal Analysis of UN Security Council Sanctions on Iraq’s 1990 Invasion of Kuwait: A Normative Study on Charter Violations and Implementation Challenges. Padjadjaran Journal of International Law, 9(2). https://doi.org/10.23920/pjil.v9i2.2052
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