UN Peacekeeping Operations: Calls for Closer Working Relationship with Security Council

Strategic Insights -

Several major countries that contribute troops to U.N. peacekeeping operations are calling for a closer working relationship between them and the Security Council to make U.N. peace missions more successful. This proposal aims to address the ambiguity in the council's decisions, which has led to the failure of some U.N. peace missions. The countries participating in the public debate on Wednesday emphasized the need for institutionalizing a mechanism for consultations between the council and governments that send troops. This collaboration is seen as crucial to improving the working methods of the Security Council regarding peacekeeping operations.

Key Takeaways:

  • Over 30 countries participated in the public debate on Wednesday to improve the Security Council's working methods regarding peacekeeping operations.
  • Japan's Ambassador Hisashi Owada called for institutionalizing a mechanism for consultations between the Security Council and countries contributing to peace operations.
  • The United States, Britain, and France agreed with contributing nations to set up a consultative forum to ease resentment by contributors, who at times complained that the council gave ill-defined mandates and did not provide resources and the political will to back a peace mission.
  • The U.S. delegate Karl Inderfurth emphasized the need for added regular consultations between the Security Council and troops contributors, citing the "press of events" that forces the council to act quickly without enough time for consultation or communication with capitals.
  • Canada's Ambassador Richard Fowler called for an end to "half-hearted, half-baked, under-resourced and ill-defined operations" and emphasized the need for closer collaboration between the Security Council and contributing nations.
  • The United Nations relinquished its command in the Balkans to NATO on the same day the public debate took place, highlighting the perceived failures of U.N. peace missions in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Statistics:

  • Over 30 countries participated in the public debate on Wednesday to improve the working methods of the Security Council regarding peacekeeping operations (United Nations).
  • The United States, Britain, and France agreed to set up a consultative forum to ease resentment by contributors (United Nations).
  • The number of countries contributing troops to U.N. peacekeeping operations (exact number not specified).
  • The number of countries participating in the public debate on Wednesday (exact number not specified).
  • The number of countries that have sent troops to U.N. missions, as mentioned by Canada's Ambassador Richard Fowler (exact number not specified).

Sources:

  • The United Nations (exact date not specified in the original text).
  • United States delegate Karl Inderfurth (exact quote from the original text).
  • Canada's Ambassador Richard Fowler (exact quote from the original text).
  • Japan's Ambassador Hisashi Owada (exact quote from the original text).