Russia Says UN Peacekeeping Missions Are Losing Focus

(MENAFN) Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, stated that peacekeeping and political operations are drifting from their initial purpose, claiming that excessive mandates and ideological objectives have weakened trust between host nations and the UN.

During a UN Security Council session on the future of peace operations, Nebenzya emphasized that peacekeeping should concentrate on facilitating political settlements and establishing security conditions, while honoring the sovereignty of host countries.

He highlighted that both peacekeeping and special political missions remain crucial in resolving conflicts but cautioned that they are increasingly experiencing “a crisis of consent” from the nations where they operate.

“Some missions have become a means of promoting an ideological agenda that is widely disseminated at headquarters, but clearly does not coincide with the values of societies in the deployment countries and their urgent needs,” Nebenzya noted, adding that this has caused governments and citizens to question the effectiveness of such missions.

Nebenzya argued that peace operations should avoid responsibilities unrelated to the Security Council, such as domestic governance, human rights advocacy, climate change, and development initiatives.

“Disagreements arise more often when missions are saturated with tasks that are not directly related to the Security Council,” he said, cautioning that such strategies risk blurring the distinction between the duties of peacekeepers and the authority of sovereign states.

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