telegramwriter.bsky.social
Senior Fellow, @nyucic.bsky.social // United Nations peace operations and institutional reform | previously Met Opera, UN EOSG, UN Peacekeeping, USUN | views my own; RT≠endorsement
An nescis, mi fili, quantilla prudentia mundus regatur?
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And in negotiations on SCR 2719, UK was concerned that UN-AU joint planning would lead to AU ops financed by the UN being presented to the UNSC as a fait accompli. It sought to have planning proceed only w/prior UNSC approval. The compromise was to notify the UNSC+AUPSC of any joint planning. [3/3]
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This @prioresearch.bsky.social report, for example, notes that “UN Secretary-General António Guterres instructed #UNRWA and the UN family not to engage in contingency planning, as that would imply accepting laws deemed illegal according to international law.” [2/3]
www.prio.org/publications...
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On assessed, China is already the second-largest contributor (now paying 20% under the UN regular budget and almost 24% for peacekeeping). But its persistent late payment is one of the contributing factors in the ongoing liquidity crisis in the Secretariat. [3/3]
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On voluntary contributions, China has never been a major multilateral donor. Even if it ramps up spending, It’s hard to imagine that China would come close to the level the U.S. previously provided to the UN system.
According to CEB stats, China gave $150 mil in 2023. U.S. gave $9.7 bil. [2/3]
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If the United States stops paying its assessments, suspension of voting rights in the General Assembly will happen automatically under the terms of Article 19 of the UN Charter once it is behind by at least the equivalent of two years of contributions due.
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A critical element is to plug the funding hole if the magnitude of late/non-payment gets too large. This can’t be fixed thru budget cuts alone. A supplemental assessment can help; it would allow UN to function while ensuring that countries who cover the shortfall are later paid back w/credits. [2/2]
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I would assume, that if they want to deduct the U.S. share of the costs of the HRC, that they would use the line item corresponding to "Supporting the Human Rights Council".
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The cost estimates for the human rights section of the 2025 programme (regular) budget are reflected in this table; the U.S. share of the regular budget is 22%.
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Yes, the EO specifies that the proportion of the US assessment for the 2025 #UN regular budget corresponding to the US share of UNHRC costs will be withheld.
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bsky.app/profile/tele...
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If the US decides to leave UNESCO, the earliest that this could take place would be the end of 2026.
Under Article II, Section 6 of the UNESCO Constitution, any Member State may withdraw by giving written notice; the withdrawal takes effect on 31 December of the year after notification. [5/5]
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As such, the 90-day review of US membership in UNESCO will be a test to see which is more important to US foreign policy (and US posture at the UN) under Trump 2.0: anti-Israel sentiment or countering Chinese influence. [4/5]
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As I argued here, the US withdrawal from UNESCO during Trump 1.0 was mostly symbolic, b/c the US had already lost its vote. But the US rejoined under Biden because Congress waived the funding prohibition to allow the US to counter Chinese influence. [3/5]
theglobalobservatory.org/2024/11/what...
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The US is prohibited by law from providing funding to UN orgs that recognize #Palestine. UNESCO admitted Palestine in 2011, leading to a loss of US funding and the consequent loss of US vote in the UNESCO General Conference in 2013. [2/5]
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FYI, other pledges of support to the Multinational Security Support mission in #Haiti are tracked here:
casquebleu.org/index.php?ti...
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The scales of assessments for the UN regular and #peacekeeping budgets are negotiated by the General Assembly every three years. The revised rates for all Member States under both scales for 2024-2026 can be found here:
undocs.org/en/A/79/318/... [3/3]
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The biggest change is, of course, the fact that China—the 2nd largest assessed contributor—is now responsible for over 20% under both scales. The fact that the two largest contributors do not pay assessments on time is one of the main factors driving the ongoing liquidity crisis at the UN. [2/3]
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I previously wrote about the Kassebaum-Solomon amendment and other examples of U.S. withholding of assessed contributions to the United Nations in this policy brief, originally published in August 2024.
cic.nyu.edu/resources/th...
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For more about what Trump is likely to do at the UN during his second term, you might be interested in this piece I published last month on @ipinstgo.bsky.social. [3/3]
theglobalobservatory.org/2024/11/what...
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The Constitution of the World Health Organization doesn’t actually contain provisions for withdrawal of membership. The U.S., however, joined the WHO under the condition of having the right to withdraw. Congress codified this reservation in law under what is currently 22 USC §290c. [2/3]
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The WSJ editorial written by Musk and Ramaswamy last week outlining their plans for DOGE actually included a reference to int’l orgs. It’s not immediately clear what the $1.5 billion refers to, but the mention in a vision statement for cost-cutting is notable in itself.
www.wsj.com/opinion/musk...
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For further reading, check out my earlier policy brief on the liquidity crisis in the #UN Secretariat.
bsky.app/profile/nyuc...
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I wrote about how a UN support package for the MSS in #Haiti could be delivered back in January, before the Kenyan contingent began its deployment.
theglobalobservatory.org/2024/01/how-...
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Thanks so much! Please feel free to add me; I’m a researcher (and former practitioner) focusing on the UN (institutional reform, coherence, etc.).
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Looking ahead, this also has massive implications for the selection process for the next Secretary-General, the appointment of key leadership positions traditionally held by Americans. And it could see other implications for personnel selection at the UN. Get ready. [end]
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Other targets? UNRWA and orgs that admitted Palestine as a member, e.g., UNESCO. If bills introduced by GOP to halt funding for any orgs that give Palestine privileges beyond observer status pass, funding will also halt for UN, potentially leading to loss of vote in the GA under Article 19. [4/5]