Eugene Chen
Non-resident adviser, @ipinst.bsky.social // United Nations peace operations and institutional reform | previously NYU CIC, Met Opera, UN EOSG, UN Peacekeeping, USUN | views my own; RT≠endorsement
An nescis, mi fili, quantilla prudentia mundus regatur?
- The #UN is in dire financial straits because of non-payment by the United States. But instead of taking the necessary steps needed to keep the organization afloat, the Secretary-General is more interested in playing the blame game and avoiding responsibility. casquebleu.substack.com/p/whether-th...
- The working methods that emerged after the Cold War at the #UN do not suffice when the U.S. no longer pretends to adhere to a rules-based order. In the absence of leadership from the Secretary-General, member states need to think—and act—outside the box. casquebleu.substack.com/p/leadership...
- Following approval of major budget cuts proposed by the Secretary-General, the #UN enters 2026 with a dramatically worsened financial position. Unless something major changes, U.S. non-payment means the organization is slipping into a budgetary death spiral. casquebleu.substack.com/p/fifth-comm...
- We finally have the long-awaited outcome of the Trump administration review of U.S. participation in international organizations. TL;DR—it's not nearly as bad as it could have been, at least where the UN is concerned. theglobalobservatory.org/2026/01/the-...
- Back in July, I wrote this piece on how the Trump administration treats international law and norms opportunistically, using them as justification when useful and ignoring them when not convenient. Although the piece was about the #UN, it applies to U.S. foreign policy more broadly. #Venezuela.
- In the most recent edition of my weekly musings, I explore what the recent USUN confirmation hearings and the withdrawal from UNESCO tell us about the emerging contours of U.S. policy towards the UN. casquebleu.substack.com/p/the-emergi...
- The race for the next #UN Secretary-General has begun. This week, I make five predictions based on the process agreed and the interests of key Member States on: 1️⃣ Profile of candidates 2️⃣ Gender 3️⃣ Regional representation 4️⃣ What the P5 will demand 5️⃣ Timeline casquebleu.substack.com/p/prediction...
- Are #UN staff overpaid? Maybe. But short-sighted cuts pushed in the #FifthCommittee are counterproductive. We need a broader rethink of compensation to make the int'l civil service affordable while also being able to effectively respond to today's challenges. casquebleu.substack.com/p/are-un-sta...
- Reimbursement for troops and equipment in #UN #peacekeeping is not just a financial matter. How reimbursement is paid—and for what—helps shape Member State behavior and Secretariat processes, with under-appreciated implications for performance and effectiveness. open.substack.com/pub/casquebl...
- Unfortunately, the #FifthCommittee failed to meet the moment on this. Instead of protecting the budgetary prerogatives of the General Assembly, it rolled over by agreeing on a rubber-stamp draft resolution on the implementation or resolution 2719. undocs.org/en/A/80/527
- The #UN80 mandate review highlights the use of the phrase "within existing resources" by delegates wishing to handwave away pesky budgetary issues. But the way it's currently being used goes against the Charter and decisions of the General Assembly. casquebleu.substack.com/p/how-do-you...
- Member States should use the peace operations review to rethink the scope and working methods of the Special Committee on #Peacekeeping Operations (C-34) to reposition the C-34 as a body that can productively shape #UN peace operations moving forward. casquebleu.substack.com/p/re-imagini...
- Reducing the U.S. share of the #UN budget would help mitigate the cash shortfall, but it is unlikely to happen due to the zero-sum nature of negotiations over the scales of assessments and the consensus-based decision making process in the #FifthCommittee. casquebleu.substack.com/p/can-changi...
- It's been over 10 years since the last large-scale UN mission start-up. This week, I provide a refresher on start-up funding arrangements, explain the Secretary-General's request for the UN Support Office in #Haiti, and point out some issues with the request. casquebleu.substack.com/p/getting-th...
- The #UN80 mandate review highlights the use of the phrase "within existing resources" by delegates wishing to handwave away pesky budgetary issues. But the way it's currently being used goes against the Charter and decisions of the General Assembly. casquebleu.substack.com/p/how-do-you...
- The UN has been forced to repatriate 25% of troops and police in #peacekeeping missions to deal with cash shortages stemming primarily from U.S. non-payment. I explain why existing liquidity mechanisms were insufficient and what this means going forward. casquebleu.substack.com/p/the-contin...
- U.S. arrears at the #UN are mounting, and it is at risk of losing its vote in the General Assembly. This week, I dive into when this might happen and what the consequences might be. casquebleu.substack.com/p/is-the-us-...
- Talk of modular approaches in peace operations is in the air, but there are many different interpretations and uses of the concept. What are the different schools of thought and which should be the focus of #UN80 and the peace operations review? casquebleu.substack.com/p/what-do-we...
- The Security Council never needed resolution 2719 to be able to provide assessed contributions to non-UN forces, and the likelihood of 2719 application seems more remote than ever. It's time to look beyond 2719 in designing effective partnership arrangements. casquebleu.substack.com/p/what-now-f...
- In my latest piece, I examine the #UN80 revised estimates and explain how the initiative risks exacerbating the liquidity crisis, precipitating a loss of talent, and undermining the ability of the next Secretary-General to define a path forward for the #UN. casquebleu.substack.com/p/nobody-wan...
- This is the one week of the year where I can say things like: Sorry I’m late to this meeting; I was stuck behind the Spanish and Swedish kings while waiting for the elevator.
- Do we actually know if Waltz is a member of the Cabinet? The U.S. Representative to the UN is not automatically a Cabinet-rank position, and although Stefanik was nominated as a Cabinet-level official, I haven't yet seen anything to that effect for Waltz.
- Reposted by Eugene Chen[Not loaded yet]
- The #UN80 revised estimates were released this week. In this week's post, I look at the cuts and changes proposed for the peace and security pillar (DPPA and DPO), assessing the likely motivations behind the changes proposed and why these fall short. casquebleu.substack.com/p/restructur...
- The U.S. wants a Gang Suppression Force in #Haiti with a UN support office. In this piece, I examine how the support office model went from being the option of last resort to the default option for UN peace and security engagement in complex settings. casquebleu.substack.com/p/un-support...
- The simplistic narratives underpinning the #UN80 mandate review do not help us understand and address the problems underpinning ineffective and inefficient delivery. open.substack.com/pub/casquebl...
- For an organization with so many plans and planners, the UN is surprisingly bad at planning. In my latest commentary, I argue that this is driven by several factors and has pernicious effects for relevance, effectiveness and adaptability of UN peace ops. casquebleu.substack.com/p/dont-feed-...
- What are the prospects and potential for various day-after options for #Gaza, including #UN #peacekeeping? I gave ABC Radio National some of my thoughts earlier this week. www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
- Ten years ago, the High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations argued for using the full spectrum of peace operations, but today the divisions between #peacekeeping and political missions are further entrenched. Why does this matter and what can be done? casquebleu.substack.com/p/towards-a-...
- In the most recent edition of my weekly musings, I explore what the recent USUN confirmation hearings and the withdrawal from UNESCO tell us about the emerging contours of U.S. policy towards the UN. casquebleu.substack.com/p/the-emergi...
- Geopolitics are not the only reason why UN peace operations struggle today. My latest piece looks at what can be done to ensure that the peace ops review and #UN80 actually take a critical look at whether existing approaches and structures remain fit for purpose. open.substack.com/pub/casquebl...
- In case you're hankering for more #UN content in your podcast queue, the latest episode of Future Tense includes commentary from @richardgowan1.bsky.social and me on #UN80 and the liquidity crisis. www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
- My latest piece: On the irony of allowing a culpable Member State to weaponize a measure originally intended to avert a liquidity crisis to block action in the #FifthCommittee to mitigate one, plus the likely impact and rationale behind the #UN80 budget cuts. casquebleu.substack.com/p/fiddling-w...
- Last week, the General Assembly approved a level of nearly $5.4 billion for #peacekeeping operations for 2025/26. My latest piece has some thoughts about whether under-resourcing is what ails missions, and what this tells us about reform. #FifthCommittee #UN80 open.substack.com/pub/casquebl...
- I'm giving Substack a try. In my first post, I argue that the #UN80 mandate review is a distraction that is unlikely to yield actionable insights on how to address duplication and redundancy within the UN. casquebleu.substack.com/p/thoughts-o...
- Reposted by Eugene Chen[Not loaded yet]
- An nescis, mi fili, quantilla prudentia mundus regatur?
- The rescission package, which affects funding already appropriated for FY2024 and 2025, includes $200 mil from CIO (inter alia, U.S. assessments for the UN regular budget) and $361 mil to CIPA (U.S. assessments for UN #peacekeeping budgets), along with $437 mil in voluntary contributions.
- The Security Council has not been able to reach agreement on financing #AUSSOM using UN assessed funding (i.e., the “hybrid” implementation of UNSCR 2719). As such, UN support to the AU in #Somalia will continue under existing arrangements through #UNSOS. undocs.org/en/S/2025/322
- It is entirely unclear what the SG is trying to accomplish here. Arbitrary staffing cuts not only won’t bring the fundamental reform needed at the UN. It also won’t address the liquidity crisis. If the U.S. withholds, it doesn’t matter how small the pie is. 22% will still be missing. #UN80
- UN Secretary General instructs managers to cut thousands of additional jobs in fields from peacekeeping to development and human rights. www.devex.com/news/un-chie...
- The plan to present proposals in revised estimates for the 2026 budget is misguided. Going this route opens door to member states blocking reforms on procedural grounds (vs their merits). Cutting the budget (vs finding savings within the budget level) also reduces ability to deal with liquidity.
- Germany did an excellent job at hosting the 2025 Peacekeeping Ministerial earlier this month. But 10 yrs on, has the ministerial process run its course? I argue that it reinforces the primacy of the military in #peacekeeping and an outdated approach to force generation. cic.nyu.edu/resources/re...
- Reposted by Eugene Chen[Not loaded yet]
