My recent Substack piece was a response to some of the recommendations from a report on backroom deals by 1 for 8 Billion. It's definitely worth reading in full: 1for8billion.org/backroom-deals @arbeider4fred.bsky.social wrote a thoughtful response to my criticism which is also worth reading.

Fred Carver@arbeider4fred.bsky.social · 2w ago

Really grateful to @casquebleu.org for his thoughtful engagement with our Backroom Deals report. I've replied here. casquebleu.substack.com/p/living-wit...

Backroom deals between candidates for Secretary-General and the permanent members of the Security Council are an unavoidable part of the selection process. But there are ways to mitigate the political pressure, and even potential silver linings to such deals. casquebleu.substack.com/p/living-wit...

Living with backroom deals in the Secretary-General selection process

Can't wish them away

casquebleu.substack.com

Plusieurs de mes publications sur Substack concernant les opérations de paix sont désormais disponibles en français, grâce à l'Observatoire Boutros-Ghali. www.observatoire-boutros-ghali.org/2026/07/reco...

Recommandations pour l’avenir du maintien de la paix : réflexions du Substack "Casque bleu"

Depuis 2025, le chercheur et diplomate Eugene Chen anime le Substack Casque Bleu, dans lequel il porte un regard aussi informé qu'incisif sur ce qui se joue loin du terrain des missions de paix onusie...

observatoire-boutros-ghali.org

On 1 July, the US announced that it would not accept continuation of the #UN Support Office in Somalia #UNSOS beyond the end of the year. In this post, I highlight three takeaways from this saga that should inform future thinking on peace ops and partnership. casquebleu.substack.com/p/the-end-of...

The end of UNSOS? Takeaways from the U.S. announcement

The writing was already on the wall

casquebleu.substack.com

This week, #UN Secretariat staff were told that there is only enough cash on hand to pay salaries through August, but it's not clear that leadership is ready to take the decisions necessary to keep the Organization running through the end of the year. casquebleu.substack.com/p/quick-thou...

Quick thoughts on the financial situation

Plus, looking back on a year on Substack

casquebleu.substack.com

This week, I examine why and when countries fail to pay their #UN dues to show that the weaponization of assessed contributions isn't going away anytime soon. The UN needs to reduce its financial reliance on a small number of countries, and soon. casquebleu.substack.com/p/a-la-carte...

À la carte financing is here to stay

Understanding why and when UN member states withhold assessed contributions

casquebleu.substack.com

Policymakers don't seem to understand comparative advantage. Although embracing the concept should help improve coherence and collective impact of #UN response, misunderstanding it exacerbates existing turf wars and fragmentation. casquebleu.substack.com/p/the-perils...

The perils of misunderstanding comparative advantage

Policymakers are getting it wrong

casquebleu.substack.com

There has been a dramatic increase in the use of gratis personnel in the #UN Secretariat, particularly for #peacekeeping. This week, I examine why this is happening and whether it is a positive development. casquebleu.substack.com/p/gratis-per...

Gratis personnel and the pay to play problem

Personnel can be earmarked contributions too

casquebleu.substack.com

The #UN needs to accept that U.S. non-payment is the new normal. Many of the reforms that the U.S. is now demanding should be implemented not because of the possibility that the U.S. will pay up, but because those reforms are, in fact, necessary. casquebleu.substack.com/p/reforms-wo...

Reforms won’t get the United States to pay up

…but that doesn’t mean the United Nations shouldn’t reform

casquebleu.substack.com

The fact that the Falklands is back in the news complicates Rafael Grossi’s run for #UN Secretary-General as the dispute may make support for an Argentine candidate a non-starter for the UK, which retains a veto in the selection process.

The Guardian@theguardian.com · 3mo ago

UK position on Falklands will not change, No 10 says after leaked Pentagon memo

The interactive dialogues marked a new phase in the race for #UN Secretary-General, but the shape of the race remains much the same as it was beforehand. The race is still open, and more candidates are likely to emerge in the months ahead. casquebleu.substack.com/p/secretary-...

Secretary-General selection: state of play after the interactive dialogues

The race is far from over

casquebleu.substack.com

Reimbursement underpins the form and function of troops and police in #UN #peacekeeping. Without a fit-for-purpose framework, efforts to improve the relevance and effectiveness of peace operations will be doomed to failure. casquebleu.substack.com/p/burning-di...

Burning diesel and driving in circles

Mismatched incentives in UN peacekeeping operations

casquebleu.substack.com

Reimbursements to troop-contributing countries are the largest expense in #peacekeeping, and rates are artificially inflated by inclusion of pass-thru payments. Reducing rates would allow more troops to be deployed and more TCCs to benefit from participation. casquebleu.substack.com/p/what-drive...

What drives the largest cost driver in peacekeeping?

Troop reimbursement and the pass-through problem

casquebleu.substack.com

I had the pleasure of speaking on a panel this week during which I shared my thoughts on the à la carte financing approach of the Trump administration, the rise of non-UN alternatives to #peacekeeping, and what we need from the next Secretary-General. www.youtube.com/watch?v=LK7h...

The UN Without the United States:  UN Peacekeeping

YouTube video by Carnegie Endowment

youtube.com

Improving the security of peacekeepers is not something that can be solved through more training or better equipment. It's a doctrinal issue tied to the fact that peacekeepers have become parties to conflict. Has the shift to stabilization been worth it? casquebleu.substack.com/p/improving-...

Improving the security of peacekeepers is not a technical exercise

Missing the forest for the trees

casquebleu.substack.com

We've been talking about the importance of local ownership in #peacebuilding for years now, with little effect. Part of the problem is the basic setup of the international civil service. This week, I look at measures that can help overcome these barriers. casquebleu.substack.com/p/walking-th...

Walking the talk on local ownership

Another argument for rethinking UN compensation arrangements

casquebleu.substack.com

Accelerated #UN transitions are here to stay, and long-standing problems—including mission-centric mindsets, administrative and budgetary obstacles, and planning deficiencies—need to be fixed to avoid jeopardizing hard-won peacebuilding gains. casquebleu.substack.com/p/un-transit...

UN transitions in a changed geopolitical context

More lessons not learned

casquebleu.substack.com

🔍 Le dernier rapport politique d'Eugene Chen (@casquebleu.org) examine quatre défis persistants qui affectent aujourd'hui les #opérations de paix des #NationsUnies.

The #UN is developing a new vision for police in #peacekeeping. How can we make sure this exercise doesn't exacerbate internal turf wars but instead helps peace operations meet the moment and address unintended negative consequences of existing approaches? casquebleu.substack.com/p/considerat...

Considerations for a new vision for peace operations

Remarks to the Strategic Police Advisory Group

casquebleu.substack.com

A French translation of my report setting out a new vision for #UN peace operations is now available, thanks to the support of @dgris.bsky.social (French Ministry of Armed Forces).

NYU Center on International Cooperation (CIC)@nyucic.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Au cours des 80 dernières années, les opérations de paix de l’ONU ont été un outil essentiel pour le maintien de la paix et de la sécurité internationales. Mais est-il temps d'adopter une nouvelle approche ? Découvrez les réflexions de @casquebleu.org: cic.nyu.edu/resources/a-...

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...

Whether the UN faces imminent financial collapse is up to the Secretary-General

Stop admiring the problem—do something

casquebleu.substack.com

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...

Leadership at the UN in a time of monsters

Waiting for Godot

casquebleu.substack.com

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...

Fifth Committee post-mortem

The death spiral begins

casquebleu.substack.com

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-...

The US Memo on Withdrawing from UN Organizations Is More Bark Than Bite - IPI Global Observatory

Last night, the Trump administration finally announced the long-awaited results of its 180-day review of US membership in international organizations, conventions, and treaties. It announced that it w...

theglobalobservatory.org

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.

Eugene Chen@casquebleu.org · last yr.

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...

Predictions for the Secretary-General selection process

The perils of wishful thinking

casquebleu.substack.com

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...

Are UN staff actually overpaid?

Noblemaire is in the eye of the beholder

casquebleu.substack.com

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...

Reimbursement: A missing piece in discussions on the effectiveness of UN peace operations

Amateurs talk about doctrine; professionals talk about money

open.substack.com

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

Eugene Chen@casquebleu.org · 9mo ago

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...

Re-imagining the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations

Making the C-34 relevant again

casquebleu.substack.com