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Geopolitics

Russia Running UN Security Council? Symbol (And More) Of A Broken World Order

It sounded made for April Fool's: Russia is taking over the presidency of the UN Security Council, the highest governing body in the world. But this is all too real. It's time to rethink how the council works, Pierre Haski writes.

Photo of Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia

Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia speaks during Security Council meeting back in February 2022

Pierre Haski

-Analysis-

PARIS — "A disgrace, an extreme absurdity, a symbolic blow to an international order based on law" — Ukrainian officials were left stunned, almost at a loss for words to describe Russia's appointment on April 1 to the presidency of the UN Security Council.

But the appointment is completely above board. Russia didn't scheme or cheat to get it: the rules of the Security Council, established in 1945, schedule a monthly rotation among the council's 15 members, and it just happened to be Russia's turn.

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Of course, Ukraine's dismay is entirely understandable, as the nation watches its invader — whose head of state is wanted on an international warrant for crimes against humanity — be appointed to lead the body that aims to build global peace.

To prevent Russia from presiding over the Security Council, the country would have had to choose not to take the presidency; even if the remaining Security Council members voted to exclude Russia, the country has the same right as any other permanent member to veto votes, and would never have allowed such a resolution to pass.


Two notes: first, although presidency gives Russia some influence over the Security Council's agenda, it will have little practical impact. On the other hand, Moscow does derive some sense of legitimacy, which may serve the country in future diplomacy.

Of another era

The second lesson: the United Nations is no longer an instrument suited to our era.

The rules of the UN were established after the Second World War, aiming to improve on the impotence of its predecessor, the League of Nations. The UN gained additional powers, but the war's victorious powers, which included the Soviet Union, also wanted to protect their interests.

The right of veto, reserved for the five permanent members — China, the U.S., France, the UK and Russia — represented a safeguard clause for the powers at the time. But it proved poisonous during the Cold War, first with the Soviet Union and continuing since then as the relationship between Russia and other Security Council members has deteriorated.

Today, the UN is politically paralyzed, in a state of brain death. Only its specialized agencies, such as the International Atomic Energy Agency or the World Food Programme, are currently playing a role in Ukraine.

So, just like in 1945, it is now time to rethink the post-war organization of the world, which should not allow an aggressor country to organize debates on peace. This won't be an easy compromise to make, as it is likely that neither Moscow, Beijing nor Washington will agree to give up powers to an institution that could turn around and impose something on them.

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Geopolitics

China Is Recruiting Former NATO Pilots — Is That OK?

A Parliamentary committee that oversees German intelligence services is questioning Beijing increasing recruitment activities of those who know Western weaponry best. This raises a fundamental strategic question as China-West tensions grow .

German air forces conducting exercises.

A Tornado fighter pilot of the air force squadron 33 from Büchel rolls after the landing on the air base of the tactical air force.

© Rainer Jensen via Zuma Press
Lennart Pfahler, Tim Röhn

BERLIN — The German Bundestag’s Parliamentary Supervisory Committee meets in private. It is rare for any details of the discussions between delegates, who oversee the activities of the German intelligence services, to leak to the outside world.

But in the past week, the Committee very deliberately broke its usual vow of silence. In a public statement, delegates called for stricter regulations for government employees whose jobs relate to matters of security, when they make the move to the private sector.

Above all, the committee said that engaging in work for a foreign power should “automatically qualify as a breach of the obligation to secrecy for civil servants with jobs related to matters of security."

One reason for the unusual announcement: growing concerns about Chinese efforts to recruit former German military and intelligence officers.

In security circles, the word is that the Beijing regime is showing a marked interest in operational and tactical information from the West. Beijing is looking to recruit NATO pilots, with the aim of honing fighting techniques against Western military planes and helicopters. This recruitment often happens via foreign flying schools.

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