Share this page!

Enter URL or ID to Unroll

You can paste full URL like: https://x.com/threadreaderapp/status/1644127596119195649
or just the ID like: 1644127596119195649

How to get URL link on X (Twitter) App

  1. On the Twitter thread, click on or icon on the bottom
  2. Click again on or Share Via icon
  3. Click on Copy Link to Tweet
  4. Paste it above and click "Unroll Thread"!
  5. More info at Twitter Help
Richard Gowan Profile picture
Richard Gowan
@RichardGowan1
UN Director @crisisgroup, with long history of UN-watching @ecfr, @nyuCIC, @UNUCPR & @WPReview
Sep 11, 2023 • 71 tweets • 22 min read
OK, it's that time of year again: The #UNGA high-level week is one week away.

I'll be linking to @CrisisGroup & my comments and quotes on #UNGA78 in this thread.

Follow along... 1/x In a new piece at @just_security, I look at the big issues and possible divisions we'll see at #UNGA78.

My basic predictions: The #SDGs will be the top policy issue @UN but #Ukraine's President #Zelenskyy may steal the show. 2/x justsecurity.org/88126/the-them…
Oct 30, 2022 • 5 tweets • 4 min read
There's lots of justified concern about the #BlackSeaGrainInitiative after Russia suspended its participation.

I'd just note that (i) this sort of crisis with the deal was always quite likely; and (ii) the deal is not necessarily dead. [1/5]
economist.com/europe/2022/10… When the #BlackSeaGrainInitiative was only a twinkle in the UNSG's eye in May, I told @TheEconomist that Russia could agree to a deal and then throw up obstacles to implementation. [2/5] economist.com/europe/2022/05…
May 30, 2022 • 5 tweets • 4 min read
Last week was a significant (and worrying) one for those who watch U.S./Western interactions with #China and the #UnitedNations, for three reasons.

[1/5] First, and most widely discussed, the High Commissioner for Human Rights's visit to #China turned into a (100% predictable) public relations mess. [2/5] ft.com/content/6ca09f…
Apr 22, 2022 • 6 tweets • 5 min read
So UNSG Antonio Guterres is going to #Moscow and he will see Putin.

This is a positive step, as Putin was not taking the SG's calls after he condemned the #RussianInvasion of #Ukraine.

But the trip raises some tricky issues. [1/6] reuters.com/world/un-chief… First, the SG should be very careful to avoid any "grip and grin" moments with Putin and Lavrov.

Lavrov tricked the @ICRC's experienced chief into an apparently jolly handshake in March, and will doubtless want to do the same with Guterres. [2/6] euractiv.com/section/global…
Feb 22, 2022 • 5 tweets • 3 min read
Final thoughts on tonight's #UNSC meeting on #Ukraine:

(1) Western UNSC members were tough (lots of talk of non-UN sanctions) but holding onto last chance for diplomatic way out. [1/5] (2) @RussiaUN didn't have anything of note to add to #Putin's speech earlier today.

At least Nebenzia chaired the whole event properly as UNSC president. [2/5]
Feb 22, 2022 • 10 tweets • 6 min read
India is first non-NATO country to speak on #Ukraine in #UNSC tonight. Lots of talk about the need for diplomacy, de-escalation, etc. But no reference to Ukraine's sovereignty or condemnation of Russia. Brazil expresses "extreme concern" about Ukraine in #UNSC, and calls for diplomacy for peace. Does raise sovereign equality of states and territorial integrity.

Avoids using the word "Russia".
Feb 21, 2022 • 4 tweets • 4 min read
Depressing report on the state of @OSCE_SMM from @guardian. As it notes, the mission has always faced criticism from all sides in #Ukraine, but... [1/4] theguardian.com/world/2022/feb… ... as I noted @CFR_CPA in December, @OSCE_SMM is also (for good or ill) a model for the sort of peace operations that are possible in conflicts involving major powers. [2/4] cfr.org/report/major-p…
Jan 17, 2022 • 12 tweets • 13 min read
Last week, @columlynch published a very good piece @ForeignPolicy about how the #UNSC might respond to a Russian offensive against #Ukraine.

Colum kindly quoted me, and I wanted to add a few points to the article (mainly for @UN wonks).

A 🧵 [1/12] foreignpolicy.com/2022/01/14/bid… There have been snarky responses to @columlynch's piece accusing anyone who thinks @UN can help #Ukraine are "clowns" etc.

But as I said "Nobody actually thinks that the Council will have a significant substantive role in negotiating a conclusion to a new war in Ukraine." [2/12]
Jan 17, 2022 • 5 tweets • 6 min read
Good to see @SandraBreka make a full-throated defence of EU style multilateralism @UN @ProSyn, though @antonioguterres and advisers might not put it this way. There are grumblings around UNHQ that "Our Common Agenda" is "too European" its priorities. [1/5]
project-syndicate.org/commentary/eu-… But if @PoliticoRyan is right and Angela Merkel will play a leading role in "Our Common Agenda" follow-up, it is going to be hard to deny that the EU and its vision of multilateralism are pretty central to the project. [2/5] politico.com/newsletters/gl…
Dec 24, 2021 • 5 tweets • 6 min read
With all eyes on #Ukraine, expect to hear more about the @OSCE and its @OSCE_SMM in the days/weeks ahead. [1/5] euractiv.com/section/global… As I argue @CFR_CPA, the @OSCE/@OSCE_SMM set-up in #Ukraine is a prime example of the multilateral "conflict containment" strategies that have evolved in the last decade in wars involving #Russia (pp7-13). [2/5]cfr.org/report/major-p…
Dec 22, 2021 • 5 tweets • 4 min read
Fascinating 🧵 by @heatherwilly on the P5's joint paper on strategic nuclear domain, which highlights the importance of crisis prevention/communication mechanisms.

This ties in with questions I have about the potential for P5 dialogues on non-nuclear conflict management. [1/5] As I argue @CFR_CPA/@CFR_org, the P5 could do more joint confidence-building work on other (ultimately lower-stakes) conflict management issues like #humanitarian aid, #stabilisation etc. on the model of their nuclear talks. [2/5] cfr.org/report/major-p…
Feb 23, 2021 • 5 tweets • 5 min read
Today @BorisJohnson will become the first British Prime Minister since John Major in 1992 to chair a meeting of the #UnitedNations Security Council. What's going on?

It's all about #ClimateAction [1/5] Today's @UKUN_NewYork debate at the #UNSC, which will also feature John Kerry and David Attenborough, is a big step-up in UNSC discussions of the links between the #ClimateCrisis and conflict. [2/5]
Oct 22, 2020 • 4 tweets • 5 min read
This @nyuCIC database on @UN senior appointments helps challenge one popular UN myth: That Chinese officials are taking over all the top jobs in #multilateralism. Let's take a look at the actual numbers 👇 [1/4] It's worth saying up front that this @nyuCIC database counts senior @UN jobs in the secretariat, peace operations and UN political missions. It doesn't include specialised agencies like @FAO or @UNIDO, which are currently under Chinese management. Nonetheless... [2/4]
Jul 1, 2020 • 8 tweets • 8 min read
Now that the #UNSC has passed a resolution endorsing the @UN #GlobalCeasefire, a few thoughts on (i) how we got here; and (ii) if this actually means anything 👇 [1/8] .@CrisisGroup (like many other NGOs) called for the #UNSC to back @antonioguterres' #GlobalCeasefire campaign in April, although we had two caveats... [2/8] crisisgroup.org/global/global-…
Jun 12, 2020 • 8 tweets • 11 min read
What is the future of @UNPeacekeeping in the #COVID19 era? Following up on strong articles by @CedricdeConing, @NamieDiRazza, @DeSachenka, @AdamDayNYC, @CharlieKwame and others, I step up with @louise_riis to make some prognostications in two pieces @diisdk.

A thread 👇[1/8] The basic challenge of #COVID19 and #peacekeeping is that (i) the #pandemic may actually increase demand for @UN peacemaking, etc.; but (ii) reduce the available resources, @louise_riis and I argue in our first @diisdk piece [2/8]. diis.dk/publikationer/…
Apr 22, 2020 • 5 tweets • 5 min read
It's happening! Russian media report that P5 leaders will hold a video summit on #COVID19 this Friday. A few notes on why this makes me unreasonably excited [1/5] In the short term, a P5 "virtual summit" is (hopefully) a signal that the #SecurityCouncil will get behind a @franceonu's push for a resolution backing @antonioguterres #GlobalCeasefire appeal, albeit with caveats [2/5]. crisisgroup.org/global/global-…
Mar 6, 2020 • 5 tweets • 5 min read
A few extra points on @philipperater's story. A quick calculation suggests that these 9 contributors currently deploy about 17,500 personnel (troops and police) on UN missions, or 21% of all current @UNPeacekeeping personnel [1/4] Of the 9 @UNPeacekeeping contributors asked to avoid peacekeeper rotations due to #coronavirus, #Nepal (5658 personnel) is biggest, followed by #India (5404), #China (2544) and #Italy (1084). All others deploy under 1K [2/4]
Aug 21, 2019 • 4 tweets • 5 min read
A few thoughts on the UK decision to pull diplomats out of most EU meetings on 1/9/19 ("bonkers" @CER_Grant). One place where this could be immediately notable is at the #UnitedNations, where @UKUN_NewYork has attended about 1000+ EU coordination meetings a year. [1/4] @CER_Grant @UKUN_NewYork As I noted @ecfr last year, a lot of European diplomats in NYC feel that they will miss the UK in these meetings [2/4]: ecfr.eu/publications/s…