Eugene Chen
@casquebleu.org
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?
An nescis, mi fili, quantilla prudentia mundus regatur?
Pinned
Can changing the scales of assessments help mitigate the liquidity crisis?
More wishful thinking
casquebleu.substack.com
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...
casquebleu.substack.com/p/can-changi...
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...
casquebleu.substack.com/p/can-changi...
Can changing the scales of assessments help mitigate the liquidity crisis?
More wishful thinking
casquebleu.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 6:45 PM
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...
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...
casquebleu.substack.com/p/getting-th...
Getting the UN Support Office in Haiti off the ground
A refresher on mission start-up financing
casquebleu.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:10 PM
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...
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...
casquebleu.substack.com/p/how-do-you...
How do you solve a problem like "within existing resources"?
You're doing it wrong
casquebleu.substack.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:41 PM
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...
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...
casquebleu.substack.com/p/the-contin...
The contingency plan for peacekeeping financing, explained
Not a budget cut
casquebleu.substack.com
October 24, 2025 at 2:45 PM
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...
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-...
casquebleu.substack.com/p/is-the-us-...
Is the U.S. at risk of losing its vote at the UN?
Skirting the edge of Article 19
casquebleu.substack.com
October 17, 2025 at 3:54 PM
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-...
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...
casquebleu.substack.com/p/what-do-we...
What do we mean by modular approaches to UN peace operations?
Building blocks versus networked operations
casquebleu.substack.com
October 9, 2025 at 7:05 PM
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...
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...
casquebleu.substack.com/p/what-now-f...
What now for Security Council resolution 2719?
Full of sound and fury
casquebleu.substack.com
October 2, 2025 at 1:56 PM
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...
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...
casquebleu.substack.com/p/nobody-wan...
UN80: Nobody wants this
Reflections on the 2026 revised estimates, part 2 of 2
casquebleu.substack.com
September 25, 2025 at 2:25 PM
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...
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.
September 23, 2025 at 4:23 PM
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.
The Senate on Friday confirmed Mike Waltz to be the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, filling the last vacancy in President Donald Trump’s Cabinet after eight months of delays and the withdrawal of a previous nominee. https://to.pbs.org/3KwJMOE
Senate confirms former national security adviser Mike Waltz as Trump's UN ambassador
Waltz served for mere weeks as Trump’s national security adviser before he was ousted in May after mistakenly adding a journalist to a private Signal chat used to discuss sensitive military plans.
to.pbs.org
September 22, 2025 at 3:19 PM
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
On UNGA's one-year deadline for Israel to comply with its legal obligations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Erica Gaston writes that Member States have ample options for responding to the situation in Gaza, drawing from 80 years of practice:
www.justsecurity.org/120901/from-...
www.justsecurity.org/120901/from-...
Weighing the Options on UNGA Action on Gaza
With no end in sight for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, could the General Assembly support humanitarian or peacekeeping intervention?
www.justsecurity.org
September 18, 2025 at 12:58 PM
On UNGA's one-year deadline for Israel to comply with its legal obligations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Erica Gaston writes that Member States have ample options for responding to the situation in Gaza, drawing from 80 years of practice:
www.justsecurity.org/120901/from-...
www.justsecurity.org/120901/from-...
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...
casquebleu.substack.com/p/restructur...
Restructuring the UN peace and security pillar redux
Too little, too late
casquebleu.substack.com
September 18, 2025 at 1:44 PM
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...
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...
casquebleu.substack.com/p/un-support...
UN support offices and the primacy of the military
How the option of last resort became the preferred model
casquebleu.substack.com
September 4, 2025 at 2:04 PM
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...
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...
open.substack.com/pub/casquebl...
In defense of unread UN reports
Beware of simple narratives
open.substack.com
August 28, 2025 at 2:07 PM
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...
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-...
casquebleu.substack.com/p/dont-feed-...
Closing the planning gap in the Secretariat
Stop feeding the beast
casquebleu.substack.com
August 21, 2025 at 1:30 PM
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-...
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...
www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
Could the UN actually send forces into Gaza? - ABC listen
With Israel’s plan to go deeper into Gaza, the scenario looks intractable. Israel itself is increasingly isolated on the world stage. So what tools might be available to the United Nations to “force” ...
www.abc.net.au
August 13, 2025 at 4:09 PM
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...
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-...
casquebleu.substack.com/p/towards-a-...
Towards a full spectrum of UN peace operations
Getting back on track
casquebleu.substack.com
August 7, 2025 at 3:32 PM
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-...
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...
casquebleu.substack.com/p/the-emergi...
The emerging contours of UN policy under Trump 2.0
Reading the tea leaves
casquebleu.substack.com
July 24, 2025 at 4:30 PM
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...
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...
open.substack.com/pub/casquebl...
July 17, 2025 at 12:47 PM
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...
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...
www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
A turning point for the United Nations - ABC listen
Suffering internal division and stymied by geopolitical bullying, the United Nations is facing a future of diminishing influence. As the organisation marks its 80th birthday, it's also dealing with a ...
www.abc.net.au
July 11, 2025 at 11:29 AM
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...
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...
casquebleu.substack.com/p/fiddling-w...
Fiddling while the UN runs out of cash
The need to avoid business as usual in the Fifth Committee
casquebleu.substack.com
July 10, 2025 at 1:33 PM
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...
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...
open.substack.com/pub/casquebl...
Budgets, bureaucracy, and the blame game in UN peacekeeping
Passing the buck
open.substack.com
July 3, 2025 at 1:10 PM
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...
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...
casquebleu.substack.com/p/thoughts-o...
Thoughts on the UN80 mandate review
TL;DR: it's a trap!
casquebleu.substack.com
June 26, 2025 at 4:26 PM
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...
casquebleu.substack.com/p/thoughts-o...
Reposted by Eugene Chen
Another sign of how different a world we're living in right now compared to two decades ago, the US president is deciding whether to launch a major war of choice against a country that has not attacked the US, and there is not even a mention of going to the UNSC to get an authorizing resolution.
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I could be proven wrong within days or even hours, but I think this is a decision Trump is constitutionally unable to make.
On one hand, he would demonstrate power, which he confuses with strength.
On the other, he would face potentially disastrous consequences of which he is terrified.
On one hand, he would demonstrate power, which he confuses with strength.
On the other, he would face potentially disastrous consequences of which he is terrified.
June 18, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Another sign of how different a world we're living in right now compared to two decades ago, the US president is deciding whether to launch a major war of choice against a country that has not attacked the US, and there is not even a mention of going to the UNSC to get an authorizing resolution.
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An nescis, mi fili, quantilla prudentia mundus regatur?
June 6, 2025 at 12:51 PM
An nescis, mi fili, quantilla prudentia mundus regatur?