International conflict remained the most visible marker of the age. The war in Ukraine continued into another year with no decisive resolution, its consequences extending far beyond the battlefield. Grain supply disruptions affected food prices in Africa and the Middle East. Energy markets in Europe adjusted again, relying less on Russian supply and more on fragile alternatives. What stood out in 2025 was not escalation but endurance. The war became a test of economic stamina, political patience, and public attention. As Thucydides observed long ago, prolonged conflict does not merely destroy cities; it reshapes character. By this year, the reshaping was evident across alliances and institutions.

The situation in Gaza and the wider Middle East remained a defining moral and diplomatic challenge. Civilian casualties, humanitarian access, and ceasefire negotiations dominated international forums. Despite repeated diplomatic efforts by the United Nations, regional actors, and global powers, violence recurred in cycles that felt tragically familiar. What distinguished 2025 was the erosion of language itself. Words like restraint and concern were used so often that they lost weight. The world knew what was happening. The problem was not awareness but action. As Hannah Arendt warned, the danger of modern tragedy is not ignorance but normalization.

Major elections across the world reflected a shared fatigue. In several democracies, voters turned away from grand ideological promises and toward messages of control, order, and economic security. This was not a global swing in one political direction but a global narrowing of expectations. Governments were judged less on vision and more on competence. The social contract felt thinner, transactional rather than aspirational. The belief that politics could transform society gave way to the hope that it might at least prevent collapse.

Economic pressures remained central to public life. Inflation eased in some economies, but living costs remained high. Housing shortages affected cities from Europe to Asia. Youth unemployment persisted in parts of the Global South while automation reshaped labor markets elsewhere. These were not abstract trends. They influenced migration, delayed family formation, and intensified social frustration. Adam Smith wrote that economic systems exist to serve human welfare. In 2025, many people quietly wondered whether the system still remembered that purpose.

Climate change asserted itself not through theory but through consequence. Extreme heat events set new records across multiple continents. Flooding displaced communities in South Asia while prolonged drought strained agriculture in parts of Africa and Latin America. The scientific consensus had long been clear. What changed in 2025 was the political framing. Climate adaptation received more attention than prevention. Governments invested in resilience infrastructure not because emissions debates were resolved but because damage was unavoidable. At the COP30 summit in Brazil, climate finance and adaptation dominated discussions, reflecting an acceptance that the future had already arrived unevenly.

Technology continued to accelerate, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence. By 2025, AI systems were integrated into education, healthcare, law, and governance. The European Union began enforcing aspects of its Artificial Intelligence Act, setting global precedents for regulation. Debates over transparency, bias, and accountability intensified. The concern was no longer whether machines could perform complex tasks but whether societies could govern their use without eroding trust. In Plato’s Phaedrus, writing itself was once criticized for weakening memory. In 2025, the question was whether delegation of thought would weaken responsibility.

Information ecosystems remained fragile. Deepfakes, misinformation, and algorithmic amplification challenged journalism and public discourse. Trust became a scarce resource. People relied increasingly on smaller circles, familiar voices, and personal networks to interpret reality. This fragmentation did not lead to silence but to parallel narratives that rarely intersected. The idea of a shared public truth felt strained. George Orwell warned that control of truth precedes control of people. In this year, truth was not controlled so much as diluted.

Global institutions faced mounting pressure. The United Nations struggled to assert authority in conflicts where veto power limited action. International law appeared selective in its enforcement. Smaller states questioned whether rules based order still protected them. Yet despite criticism, these institutions did not collapse. They persisted, imperfect but necessary. As with ancient Roman law in its later years, legitimacy weakened but structure endured because no clear alternative existed.

Amid these large forces, human responses remained deeply personal. Migration continued as people moved not only away from violence but toward possibility. Cultural production reflected anxiety and longing. Literature, cinema, and music explored themes of memory, loss, and identity. There was renewed interest in classical texts not as academic exercises but as survival manuals. Stoic philosophy gained popular attention not because it promised happiness but because it offered endurance.

We borrowed courage from the dead
because the living were exhausted
and still the sun rose without apology

What made 2025 distinct was not despair but sobriety. Optimism did not disappear, but it matured. People no longer expected rescue. They focused on repair. Communities organized locally when global solutions stalled. Mutual aid filled gaps left by institutions. These efforts rarely made headlines, but they sustained daily life.

The year forced a quiet reckoning with scale. Many problems proved too large for individual action yet too urgent for abstraction. This tension produced discomfort but also honesty. The world stopped pretending that complexity could be simplified without cost. As Ecclesiastes reminds us, there is a time to build and a time to endure what has already been built.

By the end of 2025, there was no clear victory to celebrate and no singular disaster to mourn. Instead, there was continuity marked by awareness. Humanity did not solve its greatest problems, but it learned their weight. History may record this year as transitional, not because it changed everything, but because it changed how seriously we understood what had already changed.

The future did not arrive with fire
it arrived with receipts
and asked us to read carefully

If the year taught anything, it was this. The world does not end when certainty fades. It continues, more cautiously, more honestly, and with a deeper understanding that progress is not guaranteed but responsibility is.

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Leadership, Sacrifice, and Humanitarian Service

Maj. Gen. Goswami’s book emphasizes India’s leadership and humanitarian contributions. India has been the largest UN peacekeeping contributor: since the 1950s over 290,000 Indian service personnel have served in some 50 missions worldwide. Today roughly 5,500 Indians are deployed in nine active missions. India’s peacekeepers have paid a high price: 182 have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. This blend of valour and sacrifice reflects India’s traditions (often summarized as Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – “the world is one family”) in action, aligning its non-violent philosophy with UN values.

Crucial themes in the book include leadership under fire, dedicated diplomacy, and the protection of civilians. For example, Captain Gurbachan Singh Salaria led a small platoon against Katangese rebels in the Congo (1961) and was posthumously awarded India’s Param Vir Chakra (the nation’s highest military honour) – the only Indian to earn it in a UN mission. In modern missions, Indian units often provide vital humanitarian aid: in 2025, Indian medical teams ran an outreach clinic in South Sudan that treated over 300 displaced people. Likewise, India operates a Level-III UN hospital in Goma, DR Congo, whose humanitarian outreach “aided FARDC (Congolese army) and civilians” and was praised by the UN’s Special Representative for its professionalism. In brief, Maj Gen. Goswami highlights stories of heroism and compassion alongside diplomatic and logistical leadership. These stories illustrate that India’s role has gone far beyond providing manpower: it has often led peace-enforcement efforts, protected civilians, and extended humanitarian aid under fire.

Global Recognition and Endorsements

India’s steady commitment has drawn praise from UN leadership and diplomats. United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix noted that India is not just a “major contributor to UN peacekeeping missions” but also a global leader in ensuring accountability and protection for peacekeepers. Lacroix specifically commended India’s “lead… on accountability for crime against peacekeepers,” calling it “an important contribution to peacekeeping beyond the contribution of troops”. Similarly, India’s former UN Ambassador Asoke Mukerji and retired Lieutenant General J.S. Lidder (a former Force Commander and Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General) have lauded the professionalism and dedication of Indian peacekeepers. International experts like Dr. Cedric de Coning of NUPI (Oslo) likewise recognize India’s “principled approach” and leadership in UN operations. These endorsements underscore India’s reputation in the UN system as a reliable partner in multilateral peace efforts.

About the Author

Major General P.K. Goswami (Retd) brings both field experience to the book. Presently Director, USI Centre for UN Studies and authored the earlier volume India and UN Peacekeeping: Through the Prism of Time (2022). Maj. Gen. Goswami served in UN Angola Verification Mission as Military Observer. He regularly conducts Seminar/Conferences at notional and international and also regularly invited to participate in events relating to UN peace operations. He has 10 Monograph and two books to his credit. 75 Years of India’s Contribution to UN Peacekeeping draws on official records and personal interviews to offer a ground-up perspective on India’s evolving UN role.

Relevance to Today’s World

The book’s launch comes at a critical moment. In 2025, over 130 armed conflicts rage worldwide and modern peacekeeping faces unprecedented challenges – from proxy wars and terrorism to climate-driven crises. Maj. Gen. Goswami’s work reminds readers that strong multilateral resolve is essential. The USI UN Forum has emphasized that in a “fragmented” world, renewed cooperation is vital. By chronicling India’s contributions – past and present – the book reinforces the idea that global peace requires shared effort. It serves as both a tribute to fallen peacekeepers and a call to action: preserving international peace hinges on collective commitment to the UN ideal.

Availability: 75 Years of India’s Contribution to UN Peacekeeping (2025) is published by Pentagon Press. It will be officially launched at the USI Annual UN Forum 2025 on 24 October 2025 and is expected to be available for purchase via Pentagon Press outlets and on Amazon upon release.

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New Delhi – October 18, 2025 – The Centre for UN Studies, United Service Institution of India (USI), will host its Annual UN Forum 2025 on 23–24 October 2025 at the USI Auditorium in New Delhi.  Themed “Advancing Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Imperative in a Fragmented World,” the two-day event will bring together senior policymakers, military and government leaders, scholars, and representatives of the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).  The forum is co-hosted by USI in collaboration with the ICRC and India’s Centre for UN Peacekeeping (CUNPK).  It will focus on pressing contemporary challenges in United Nations peace operations and humanitarian action.

The forum will examine critical focus areas identified in the official concept note.  These include:

• Modern challenges in peacekeeping:  In an age of over 130 ongoing armed conflicts, peace operations face unprecedented complexity. Contemporary wars involve multiple non-state actors and proxy forces, making negotiated settlements difficult. UN missions now contend with dwindling resources, financial constraints, rising violence, vulnerable civilian populations, and widespread violations of international norms. The Forum will explore how UN peacekeeping can adapt to these realities.

• International Humanitarian Law (IHL):  The conference will highlight the crucial role of IHL in armed conflict.  Delegates will discuss recent ICRC-led initiatives aimed at galvanizing political commitment to the Geneva Conventions and related law, and how to strengthen compliance amid the devastating humanitarian impact of modern warfare.  Sessions will assess how conflicting parties interpret and apply IHL, and emphasize measures to better protect civilians and combatants who are hors de combat.

• Role of women and youth in peace and security:  Emphasizing gender and generational perspectives, the forum will highlight UN Security Council Resolutions 1325 (Women, Peace and Security) and 2250 (Youth, Peace and Security).  Speakers will examine how empowering women and young people as actors in peace processes has become essential for sustainable conflict prevention and recovery.

• Protection of Civilians (PoC):  With conflicts increasingly marked by attacks on civilians – including bombings of schools and hospitals and mass displacement – the forum will address comprehensive approaches to civilian protection.  Discussions will focus on balancing military necessity with humanitarian considerations, and on improving UN-mandated PoC strategies in the field .

• Primacy of politics in peace operations:  Delegates will review the principle that peacekeeping must support political solutions at national and local levels.  As underscored by the HIPPO and Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) frameworks, peace operations are most effective when closely aligned with inclusive political processes.  Sessions will explore how UN missions can integrate political engagement and local dynamics to consolidate peace.

The USI Annual UN Forum is a flagship event that underscores the institution’s global standing in peacekeeping, security discourse and humanitarian issues.  It will convene an international array of stakeholders – including former and current UN officials, defence and police officers, diplomats, aid experts and academics – who will share insights on peacekeeping and humanitarian imperative.  Opening Session:  The forum will begin with welcome remarks by Maj Gen P.K. Goswami (Retd), Director of the Centre for United Nations Studies (USI), and an opening address by Maj Gen B.K. Sharma (Retd), Director General of USI.  These will be followed by a video message from Mr Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, United Nations. The Keynote Address will be delivered by Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, AVSM, VM, VSM, CISC and President of the USI Council, and finally a Special Address by Mr Alfonso Verdu Perez, Head of the Regional Delegation of the ICRC in New Delhi.

The forum will feature thematic panels over two days, with distinguished chairs and experts leading discussions on the above focus areas.  At its conclusion, USI will host the launch of the new book “75 Years of India’s Contribution to UN Peacekeeping,” authored by Maj Gen P.K. Goswami (Retd), celebrating India’s long-standing role in UN missions.

The USI Annual UN Forum 2025 will highlight India’s active engagement in global peace and security debates.  By bringing together diverse perspectives from military, policy and humanitarian spheres, the forum aims to forge practical recommendations for enhancing the effectiveness of UN peace operations. Stakeholders will exchange insights and best practices to strengthen peacekeeping, uphold humanitarian law, and protect civilians. In doing so, the Forum seeks to contribute to a more secure and peaceful world, in which the core principles of peacekeeping and humanitarian law are respected by all.

For media and the public: The event is open to accredited media.  For more information on the USI Annual UN Forum 2025 and to register, visit the USI website or contact the USI.

About USI: Founded in 1870 by Major General Sir Charles MacGregor, the United Service Institution of India is the nation’s oldest tri-service think tank. USI promotes research and dialogue on national security, military strategy, conflict studies, emerging technologies and peacekeeping. Its Centre for United Nations Studies fosters India’s contributions to UN peace operations through seminars, conferences, training, and collaboration with global partners.

Media Partnership:

The Kootneeti is the official media and coverage partner for the USI Annual UN Forum 2025.

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Fast-forward fifty years, and the landscape feels both familiar and strange. The early promise of a blossoming Indo-American partnership, bright as the first light over the Pacific, is now shrouded in gathering storm clouds. In a move that startled many, President Donald Trump in 2025 hurled a 50% tariff on most Indian imports—a blow that reverberated far beyond economics. It was a loud, unmistakable message: even friendships between nations can be fragile, fragile enough to fracture when interests collide.

Tariffs are not just numbers; in the greenhouse of diplomacy, they wilt more than just trade. They stretch trust thin, cast doubt on shared values, and force the cracks between allies wide open. For India, this blow came at a delicate time. Washington accused Delhi of indirectly fueling the Russian war machine by buying discounted Russian oil. Trump’s words on social media reflected his frustration, pointing to a new axis of India and Russia falling under China’s shadow—a trilateral dance he warned was fatal to America’s global strategy.

Yet, this narrative deserves deeper thought than headline soundbites allow. A warning from Henry Kissinger rings true and sharp: “It may be dangerous to be America’s enemy, but to be America’s friend is fatal.” It’s a paradox rich with bitter truth, a caution about the peril in playing the friend of a superpower whose alliances float on the currents of its own changing interests.

India’s position is not a simple story of loyalty or betrayal. It is the story of a nation rooted in history yet looking forward—carefully, deliberately. Its close relationship with Russia is not some outdated relic but a pragmatic shield forged by decades of necessity. With Moscow supplying 60% of India’s military equipment and a significant share of its oil, this partnership is vital for New Delhi’s security and energy needs.

This is not a tale of friends lost or won, but a nuanced journey across stormy seas, shaped by history’s weight and today’s realities. Yes, the tariffs have stalled momentum and frayed edges with Washington. But India is no hapless pawn. Its responses have been sharp, pointing to hypocrisy when Western powers continue trading with Russia openly while condemning India’s calculated choices to keep energy affordable for over a billion people.

The current Indo-American relationship is complex—shadows of suspicion intermingle with deep, abiding shared interests. The U.S. still values India as a strategic anchor for the Indo-Pacific. India, amidst its tangled ties, sees in America a partner necessary for security and growth in an uncertain world.

The tariff standoff, while painful, is but one discordant note in a symphony far from finished.

Looking ahead, both nations must move beyond mere transactions of convenience, embracing instead a partnership built on patience, resilience, and mutual respect. In a world challenged by rising autocracy, fractured supply chains, and rapid technological change, India and America are not rivals but pillars supporting a vision of democracy and prosperity that reaches across the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

Poetry teaches us there is meaning even in silence, rhythm even in darkness. So does diplomacy find strength in dialogue that persists despite fractures, in cooperation born from necessity and hope. The currents of diplomacy between India and America, rough though they may be, will converge eventually—carving new paths not through force, but through understanding, respect, and sometimes difficult compromise.

We would do well to remember: no nation exists in isolation, no friendship is simple. The road forward won’t be smooth or certain, but it is the only path worth taking. Working together is no longer a choice. It is a necessity—sculpted by history, geography, and shared destiny. And in this truth lives the promise of renewed partnership, a light that, if nurtured with care, can guide both nations toward peace and prosperity their peoples deserve.

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“The cause of freedom is not the cause of a race or a sect, a party or a class—it is the cause of humankind.”
—Anna Julia Cooper

From Lahore’s barren bus stops to the Nairobi sidewalk cafes, from Jakarta overpasses to the shattered screens of WhatsApp groups in Rio—there is a timeless reality that few of us will openly dispute: what America decides to be continues to determine the world that we inhabit. At 249, the United States is still more than a country. It is a system. A paradox. A power. And most importantly, a question: what part does this power wish to have in the 21st century?

America today is diminished and yet dominant. We have watched it stumble. We’ve watched mobs overwhelm its Capitol, elected leaders toy with autocracy, and courts yield to ideology. We’ve watched cities burn with fire and fury and states at war with the very principles of liberty. And yet—bizarrely—still it is America that the world looks to when war breaks out, economies tremble, or pandemics sweep across the globe. The gravitational pull persists.

To the Global South, Pax Americana has never been sentimental. We have seen it in embargoes, drone bombings, climate agreements signed and broken, weapons sold to tyrants, and foreign aid earmarked for spreadsheets. But we also see it as the framework within which we operate international relations. It is the diplomatic GPS. Even when we pretend to reject it, we tend to be resetting ourselves around it.

It’s fashionable and tempting to declare America in decline. Its foreign policy is capricious. Its politics are contentious. One president vows to restore international norms; the next appears poised to blow them up. But anyone who wagers on the decline of America too soon tends to be surprised. Why? Because, in contrast to other empires, America is blessed with an ability to self-correct, to show itself its own scarred places, and to reason itself out of a bad idea. That is the republic’s lasting genius—not perfection, but adaptation.

For all its contradictions, the United States remains the greatest nation on earth—not for its wealth or armies, but for its founding wager: that freedom, reason, and democracy can coexist in a complex world. No other country has attempted such an ambitious blend of idealism and pluralism at such a scale. It is a place where revolutions happen not in the streets, but in courtrooms, classrooms, and ballot boxes. And even in its most hypocritical hour, it still aspires to be more than it is. That aspiration alone makes it uniquely fit to lead.

But let’s not confuse reinvention with righteousness. The U.S. continues to export its values with judicious hypocrisy. It champions human rights while jailing migrants. It advocates press freedom while seeing tech moguls devour journalism. It calls for world stability while pulling out of agreements it once advocated. These paradoxes aren’t new. They date back to America’s inception.

Alexander Hamilton, that agitated designer of early American strength, had faith in a government strong enough to command and be respected overseas. Yet he was also afraid of demagoguery at home. He realised that a republic’s power rests on its word. As Hamilton feared, power without restraint is a republic’s undoing. And yet, his dream—a strong, credible America—persists in the very balance it must now strike between principle and projection.

In 2025, much of the world—especially post-colonial states like mine—observes America’s actions not with loathing or veneration, but with calculation. Can this country still hold its word?

When America calls for restraint among India and Pakistan, as it did in the early months of this year following the Pahalgam attack, we hear not because it makes the greatest noise, but because its presence tips the regional balance. When Israel and Iran trade bullets, it is the deployment of American ships, not UN proclamations, that brims ambition with caution. When Taiwan scans the airwaves, it first awaits what Washington does, rather than what Washington says.

And yet, we are not passive in this dynamic. We hedge between superpowers with most of our governments. We trade with Beijing. We embrace Turkish drones and Russian oil. We talk of multipolarity as a bulwark against dependency. But behind that chatter, there’s a quieter, more reluctant aspiration: that America still materialises. Not perfectly. Not endlessly. But dependably.

George Washington’s farewell address cautioned against entanglements with foreign nations. And yet, the promise of Washington—the man, not the city—is that America would hold to something greater than selfish interests. That it would moderate power with virtue. In its finest moments, it still does. When it supported HIV/AIDS relief in Africa. When it supported earthquake relief in Nepal. When it educated students for generations from around the world.

No nation has sent out so many ideas, saved as many people, answered as many emergencies, or sparked as many movements. It is the only one that is specifically designed—by its economy, diversity, imagination, and ideals—to lead. Pax Americana is no historical accident; it is the fulfilment of a profounder conviction: that freedom and order are not enemies, and that leadership need not be either strategic or immoral. In that regard, Manifest Destiny was never really about territorial expansion—it was about taking responsibility. And today, that responsibility still stands. Only America can stand firm when others fail, and only America can mobilize nations when hope begins to fade.

But when it falls short, the effects spread wide. When it walked away from Afghanistan, millions lost hope. When it withdrew from climate agreements, island nations prepared to drown. When it dawdles on trade or shots or access to technology, it isn’t only Americans that are harmed—it’s us who lack the safety net of superpower status.

Yet still, many of us root for America—not because we are naïve, but because we know the alternatives. We’ve seen the imperial drift of China, the repression of Iran, the cynical weight of Russia. They may offer loans, weapons, or headlines—but they rarely offer liberty.

So, what does Pax Americana mean at 249?

It is not the victorious hegemony of the Cold War. Nor the bumbling hubris of Iraq and Afghanistan. It is something more subdued, tentative. A peace made by valid power, yes—but also by international expectation. America is the world’s first responder, whether it likes it or not.

The challenge now is not if it will lead—but how it will. Will it lecture or will it listen? Will it live up to the standards it expects from others? Will it invest in schools rather than merely jets? Will it see that the real race of the 21st century isn’t between capitalism and communism—but cynicism and courage?

In 2026, America is 250 years old. A quarter millennium of insurgency, growth, contradiction, and imagination. To those of us peering from the periphery of global power, we make only this request: don’t lose the plot. Don’t pull back behind walls and wars of nostalgia. Lead, not because you have to, but because you still can.

Because despite all, Pax Americana persists—not through power alone, but through the faith, however thin, that this imperfect republic still dares to dream.

And in a world that so often settles for ghosts—of failed revolutions, collapsed empires, promised utopias—this republic’s continued audacity to dream, to reform, to lead with an open hand rather than a closed fist, remains not just worth observing. It remains, even now, worth believing in.

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The symposium opened with welcome remarks by Maj Gen PK Goswami (Retd), Director, Centre for UN Studies, USI, who underlined India’s enduring legacy in UN peacekeeping—from Korea to Abyei (1950-2025)—highlighting the professionalism, neutrality, and global trust Indian peacekeepers command. This was followed by Maj Gen BK Sharma (Retd), Director General, USI, who echoed the sentiment and spotlighted USI’s academic engagement in peace operations, while reaffirming India’s steadfast role as a pillar of UN peacekeeping over the decades.

Calling for Equitable Burden-Sharing and Strategic Reform

In his keynote address, Lt. Gen. Satish Nambiar (Retd)—India’s former Force Commander and Head of Mission of the UN Protection Force (UNPROFOR) in the former Yugoslavia—provided a sobering appraisal of the geopolitical inequities embedded in the current UN peacekeeping structure. Drawing on his experience during one of the most complex UN operations in the post-Cold War era, Lt. Gen. Nambiar urged for a more equitable burden-sharing framework, calling out the disproportionate expectation on Global South countries to contribute troops, while the Global North predominantly funds missions without sharing frontline risks.

He stressed that the future of peacekeeping must reflect the multipolar realities of the 21st century, both in leadership representation and decision-making authority. Gen. Nambiar called for enhanced participation from developed countries, not only in terms of logistics and funding but through the deployment of personnel, which he described as a moral imperative if peacekeeping is to retain global legitimacy.

Reflecting on the changing nature of conflict—from interstate wars to intra-state, ethnic, and ideological violence—he argued that UN doctrines need recalibration. Missions today, he noted, operate in contexts with no clear peace to keep, where mandates are often vague, and political consensus is elusive.

He advocated for:

• Doctrinal reform that allows missions to be more adaptable and responsive.
• Flexible mandates aligned with realities on the ground rather than Security Council politics.
• Capacity-building within TCCs to develop in-mission expertise, especially in civil-military coordination, mediation, and use of emerging technologies.

Lt. Gen. Nambiar concluded with a reminder: “Peacekeeping is not just a military act—it is a political instrument. And India, through its principled and professional contributions, has kept that spirit alive.”

Reaffirming India’s Peacekeeping Legacy

Maj Gen PK Goswami (Retd), a veteran with extensive experience in peacekeeping operations, set the tone by reaffirming that India’s contributions to UN peacekeeping are not only quantitative but qualitatively distinctive. “No one can do meaningful peacekeeping better than Indians,” he declared, stressing the combination of empathy, discipline, and cultural adaptability that Indian soldiers bring to the field.

Maj. Gen. Goswami traced India’s peacekeeping legacy back to 1950, starting with its role in Korea and later through its leadership in countries like Congo, Cambodia, Namibia, and South Sudan. He highlighted how Indian contingents are not merely neutral military forces but stabilising agents that often serve as bridges between warring factions and local populations.

He particularly emphasised the philosophical underpinnings of India’s approach, rooted in Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and Gandhian principles of non-violence and moral courage. This, he argued, enables Indian peacekeepers to win the trust of communities, making peace enforcement more sustainable and humane.

Maj Gen Goswami also acknowledged India’s pioneering innovations such as All Women Formed Police Unit and Female Engagement Teams, community outreach projects, and medical and veterinary camps, which have reshaped the norms of UN deployments. “We are not just boots on the ground,” he said, “we are hearts in the community.”

Strategic Leadership: From Doctrine to Reality

Lt. Gen. JS Lidder (Retd), former Force Commander and then Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Sudan, spoke on strategic leadership and training gaps. He stressed the need to equip military leaders with political acumen, aligning peacekeeping with complex mission mandates. Lt Gen Lidder also emphasised sustainable engagement with tribal communities, underlining that trust-building is central to operational success.

He highlighted the evolving nature of conflicts, noting that peacekeeping operations now face challenges such as terrorism, cyber threats, and climate-induced crises. Lt Gen. Lidder advocated for a strategic reset in UN peacekeeping, emphasising that leadership should not be confined to rank but should be based on competence and adaptability. He introduced the concept of “Think Strategic and Act Operational,” urging peacekeepers to anticipate challenges and adapt swiftly to changing environments.

Diplomatic Imperatives and Policy Innovation

Ambassador Asoke Mukerji, India’s former Permanent Representative to the UN, delivered a stark warning on growing global instability and the UN Security Council’s failure to authorise peacekeeping mandates. Drawing a historical parallel with the Korean War, he warned that the UN General Assembly may increasingly assume peace and security responsibilities in the face of P5 inaction.

He advocated for reforms such as regional troop-contributing country (TCC) training centres, Make-in-India defence integration into PKOs, and linking peacekeeping with development financing. “Indian peacekeepers bring national experience to UN peacebuilding,” he concluded, emphasising India’s value-driven contributions.

Integrating Peacekeeping with Peacebuilding

Lt Gen Rakesh Kapoor, Deputy Chief of Army Staff, underscored India’s inclusive approach to peacekeeping—deploying all-women contingents and integrating Kazakh sub-units into its deployed peacekeeping units. He stated that India remains open to collaboration with any agency to enhance the effectiveness of peacekeeping missions, reflecting a spirit of internationalism and adaptability.

He cautioned that “the absence of war is not peace,” noting that peacekeeping operations (PKOs) now function in environments fractured by tribal tensions, ethnic strife, gender-based violence, and profound trust deficits. These realities, he argued, demand agile and context-specific strategies rather than rigid frameworks, making peacekeeping a complex and evolving domain.

Advocating for a unified force model, Lt. Gen. Kapoor called for a seamless integration of peacekeeping, peacebuilding, and humanitarian efforts. He emphasised that women and youth are vital agents of change in these missions. He also spotlighted India’s leadership in mental health support through the deployment of dedicated counsellors and in capacity-building initiatives across health, education, and employment sectors—hallmarks of India’s value-driven peacekeeping.

UN Resident Coordinator’s Perspective

Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator in India, emphasised the importance of building lasting partnerships to enhance the effectiveness of UN peacekeeping missions. He stated that “strong, collaborative relationships” are needed to bridge the gap between the mandates given and the mission capabilities of UN peacekeeping operations. Sharp highlighted the need for more cooperation, multilateralism, and a reformed UN system that reflects current global realities. He acknowledged the calls for UN reform, stating, “We can’t build a future for our grandchildren with a system built for our grandparents”.

Honouring the Fallen, Building the Future

This year, Brigadier Amitabh Jha (UNDOF) and Havildar Sanjay Singh (MONUSCO) have been posthumously awarded the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal. Their legacy joins that of 182 Indian peacekeepers who have laid down their lives in the service of global peace.

USI also spotlighted the role of its Centre for UN Peacekeeping (CUNPK), which continues to train Indian and international personnel, while the USI Centre for UN Studies (CUNS) contributes Indian strategic thought to global forums by collaborating with international institutions like the Challenges Forum, NUPI, EPON, SIPRI, FES, GCSP, UN Women, Global Alliance for Peace Operations, and the ICRC.

As the symposium concluded, one theme echoed strongly: India, backed by seven decades of operational excellence, is not only a contributor to peace but a thought leader shaping its future.

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The event commenced at 1100h with the Opening Remarks, setting the stage for a deep dive into a first-hand account of an arduous mission that tested the mettle of peacekeepers under extreme conditions. Lt Gen Jetley’s book is a gripping memoir of his tenure as the Force Commander of UNAMSIL and provides a vivid narrative of the mission’s struggles, triumphs, and the challenges of maintaining peace in a war-torn country.

Introduction to the Book

Lt Gen VK Jetley (Retd) took the stage to introduce his book, providing a detailed overview of his experiences in Sierra Leone. He emphasized the mission’s difficulties, including the logistical constraints, command and control challenges, and the geopolitical dynamics at play. His introduction highlighted how peacekeepers faced daunting odds, including the attacks on Kenyan and Zambian peacekeepers, which ultimately led to a dramatic shift in the mission’s approach.

Engaging Book Discussion

The book discussion, held from 1130h to 1200h, was a thought-provoking session that delved into the core themes of the book. Lt Gen Jetley explained the broader implications of UN peacekeeping, especially in conflict zones where the absence of well-trained and well-equipped troops often hampers mission success. He addressed the acute command and control problems within UNAMSIL, the presence of parallel command structures, and the impact of regional and international political maneuvering on peacekeeping operations.

One of the key points discussed was how UNAMSIL, despite its shortcomings, managed to turn a near-defeat into victory through meticulous planning and sheer determination. The discussion also brought out critical insights into the challenges of deploying multinational forces and the need for reforms in UN peacekeeping doctrines.

Maj. Gen. D.C. Katoch, Director – India Foundation, in his address, underscored the immense strategic and operational challenges faced by Indian peacekeepers in the war-torn African nation. He praised Lt. Gen. V.K. Jetley for his leadership in steering the Indian contingent through a volatile environment, highlighting how the book offers a rare, firsthand account of military decision-making in a complex conflict zone. He emphasized that such narratives are crucial in shaping future military strategies, offering valuable lessons on conflict resolution, diplomacy, and the essential role played by the Indian Army in global peacekeeping operations.

Furthermore, Maj. Gen. Katoch did not shy away from critiquing the hypocrisy of Western nations in their approach to international peacekeeping. He pointed out how Western powers, while often championing human rights and democracy, have frequently acted in self-interest, sometimes even undermining genuine peace efforts led by countries like India. He noted that the book exposes how India’s role in Sierra Leone was marked by professionalism and commitment, despite a lack of adequate international support. By bringing these realities to light, Maj. Gen. Katoch reinforced the importance of such firsthand military accounts in challenging biased narratives and highlighting India’s contributions to global stability.

The book’s powerful storytelling and real-life heroism have also caught the attention of filmmaker Abhishek Dudhaiya, director of Bhuj: The Pride of India, who has expressed keen interest in adapting The Unforgettable Saga of Sierra Leone into a feature film following its release at the United Service Institution.

Book Release and Remarks by ACM AY Tipnis (Retd)

The highlight of the event was the formal book release, held from 1215h to 1230h. Air Chief Marshal AY Tipnis (Retd) had the honor of unveiling The Unforgettable Saga of Sierra Leone, commending Lt Gen Jetley for his invaluable contribution to military literature and peacekeeping studies.

Air Chief Marshal (Retd.) A.Y. Tipnis’ remarks highlight the significance of military operations under the United Nations flag and the necessity of recognizing the contributions of those involved. He underscores the lack of adequate briefing and debriefing mechanisms for contingents returning from such operations, reflecting on the need for institutional learning and strategic preparedness.

Tipnis also touches upon the role of media and historical documentation in preserving the legacy of military endeavors, emphasizing the importance of accurate storytelling. His reflections on Operation Focus and its execution demonstrate a deep appreciation for strategic military planning and the challenges faced in multinational defense engagements. His comments resonate with a broader call for accountability, recognition, and continuous improvement in international military cooperation.

Critical Acclaim and Impact

The Unforgettable Saga of Sierra Leone has already garnered praise from military leaders and defense analysts. General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff, described it as “an essential addition to the repository of knowledge on UN peacekeeping.” Former Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari called it “an eloquent, gripping, and concise narrative that highlights the perils and pitfalls of peacekeeping operations.”

General VK Singh, Governor of Mizoram, commended the book for shedding light on the immense efforts that went into transforming UNAMSIL into a formidable force against all odds. He particularly noted that “this is a must-read for both peacekeepers and the general public to understand the complexity of such operations.”

Availability and Conclusion

The hardcover edition of the book is available through Bookmart Distributors, ensuring that military professionals, scholars, and the general public can access this important work.

The event concluded with an informal interaction session, allowing attendees to engage further with Lt Gen Jetley and other distinguished guests. The discussions reinforced the critical role of leadership, adaptability, and international cooperation in peacekeeping missions, making the event not just a book launch but a valuable discourse on global peace and security.

The post Navigating Peril and Peace: The UN Frontlines in The Unforgettable Saga of Sierra Leone Book Launch appeared first on The Kootneeti.

Opening Session

Maj Gen PK Goswami (DDG, USI) set the conference tone by highlighting the evolution of modern conflicts. He emphasized the importance of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in addressing the complexities of asymmetric warfare and stressed the emergence of non-traditional security threats like climate change and organized crime.

Maj Gen BK Sharma (DG, USI) delivered a sobering assessment of global security, revealing that 32 countries are currently at war, with 195 million people trapped in conflict zones. He reaffirmed India’s commitment to UN peacekeeping and advocated for institutional reforms.

Lt Gen Rakesh Kapoor AVSM, VSM, DCOAS (IS & C) provided a comprehensive overview of global conflict dynamics. His keynote address highlighted:

• 92 conflicts across 52 countries
• Increasing human-centric nature of warfare
• Technology’s transformative role in modern conflicts
• Emergence of full-scale, grey zone, and hybrid war categories

Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj (Former Indian Permanent Representative to the UN) spotlighted India’s significant peacekeeping contributions. She noted that 177 Indian peacekeepers have sacrificed their lives for global peace and underscored a landmark UN resolution supported by 192 nations. She also called for applying IHL to modern warfare (cyber, drones, autonomous weapons) & ensuring humanitarian access in crises like Gaza. Amb. Kamboj urged strategic adaptation, real-time data via tech, local involvement, and stronger coordination for peacebuilding.

Jean-Pierre Lacroix (UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations) marked the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, emphasizing the ongoing challenges in global peacekeeping efforts. Mr Lacroix highlighted growing challenges, including attacks on peacekeepers, echoing Maj Gen Goswami’s call for adaptation to new threats. He paid tribute to Indian peacekeepers for their dedication and contributions to global peacekeeping efforts.

Kedir Awol Omar from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) stressed the crucial importance of implementing humanitarian law to protect civilians in conflict zones.

Key Takeaways

The opening session underscored the urgent need to:

• Adapt international legal frameworks
• Address technological challenges in warfare
• Recognize emerging non-traditional security threats
• Enhance humanitarian approaches to conflict resolution

The forum highlighted India’s critical role in global peacekeeping and the complex, evolving nature of contemporary conflicts.

Session 1: Changing Character of Armed Conflict

Maj Gen BK Sharma, Director General of United Services Institution of India (USI), chaired the session that delved into the transforming landscape of global conflicts, challenging existing paradigms of international security.

Maj Gen Alok Deb, a distinguished military strategist, provided a comprehensive historical analysis of conflicts. Tracing warfare from the Boxer Rebellion to the current Ukraine conflict, he highlighted how geopolitical contestations, resource disputes, and nationalist sentiments drive contemporary conflicts. Deb introduced the innovative concept of “climate security” and emphasized the democratization of warfare, where non-state actors like drug cartels now challenge national governments.

Maj Gen (Dr) Pawan Anand, a technology and security expert, offered an in-depth examination of technological threats in modern warfare. He meticulously detailed emerging cyber risks, including sophisticated supply chain compromises and complex disinformation campaigns. Dr. Anand critically analyzed AI’s potential weaponization, highlighting the risks associated with autonomous weapons and stressing the importance of developing transparent, trustworthy technological systems in conflict scenarios.

Ingvild Brodtkorb, Research Fellow at The Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, presented a groundbreaking perspective on climate change’s role in conflict generation. Drawing from the IPCC 2022 report, she demonstrated how environmental pressures create complex conflict dynamics. Using specific case studies from South Sudan and Central African Republic, Brodtkorb illustrated how climate-induced environmental changes exacerbate social tensions through resource scarcity, migration patterns, and population displacement.

Dr. Andrei Kozik, Regional Legal Advisor for South Asia at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), delivered a nuanced critique of current situation of non-compliance with IHL. He examined the global failure to protect civilians in armed conflicts and the dehumanizing effects of modern warfare technologies like drone warfare. Drawing from ICRC’s direct experiences in Nagorno-Karabakh and Ukraine, Dr. Kozik explored the delicate balance between military necessity and humanity.

The session conclusively highlighted the multifaceted nature of contemporary conflicts, underscoring the urgent need for adaptive legal frameworks, technological understanding, and holistic approaches to global security challenges that transcend traditional military thinking.

Session 2: Evolving Conflicts – Challenges to Peace Operations and International Humanitarian Law

The second session of the USI Annual UN Forum explored the contemporary challenges and future trajectories of global peacekeeping operations, featuring insights from international experts representing diverse organizations and academic institutions.

Kath Stewart, FAS Coordinator based in Bangkok, expanded the traditional understanding of peace operations. She articulated a broader scope extending beyond conventional peacekeeping, encompassing critical functions like ceasefire monitoring, electoral support, enforcement mechanisms, and humanitarian aid. Stewart emphasized the crucial need for states to ratify core International Humanitarian Law (IHL) treaties and adopt national implementation measures.

Prof. Bharat Desai from Jawaharlal Nehru University provided a comprehensive statistical overview of UN peacekeeping. He detailed the current operational landscape, highlighting 77,650 peacekeeping personnel deployed across 11 global operations, supported by a $6.38 billion budget. Desai critically examined UN Security Council mandates, explaining peacekeeping mechanisms under Chapter 6 (Pacific Settlement of Disputes) and Chapter 7 (Action Against Aggression) of the UN Charter.

Annika Hilding Norberg, Head of Peace Operations at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP), discussed the fundamental principles of peacekeeping. She stressed the importance of trust, universality, and solidarity, emphasizing that successful peacekeeping depends on legitimacy, adaptability, and national ownership. Norberg advocated for an empathy-driven leadership approach, highlighting the necessity of competence, commitment, and nuanced interpersonal skills.

The session critically analyzed the evolving challenges in global peacekeeping. Speakers unanimously recognized the need for adaptive strategies that can respond to complex, dynamic conflict environments. They underscored the importance of protecting peacekeepers, building local capacities, and ensuring mission legitimacy through impartial and consensual approaches.

Key recommendations emerging from the session included strengthening international legal frameworks, enhancing technological capabilities for peacekeeping missions, promoting diverse leadership, and developing more flexible, context-sensitive intervention strategies.

The session concluded by emphasizing that the future of peacekeeping lies in continuous adaptation, strategic innovation, and a holistic understanding of emerging global security challenges.

Day 2

Plenary Session:

The day’s proceedings commenced with welcome remarks by Maj Gen PK Goswami, Deputy Director General of USI, who set an optimistic tone for the forum’s discussions. Alexandre Zhouev, Assistant Secretary-General of the UN, delivered a recorded message that highlighted two pivotal UN documents: the New Agenda for Peace (2023) focusing on conflict prevention and the New Vision for Rule of Law emphasizing inclusivity and strong institutional development.

Ambassador Asoke Mukerji, drawing from his extensive experience as India’s former Permanent Representative to the UN, delivered a nuanced address on peacekeeping challenges. He emphasized India’s substantial peacekeeping contributions while critically examining the need for more inclusive decision-making processes within international peacekeeping structures. Mukerji stressed the importance of empowering troop-contributing nations with equal representation in UN Security Council operations.

Mr. Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator in India, provided profound insights into the contemporary landscape of global conflicts. He articulated how conflicts are becoming increasingly “normalized” and highlighted the emerging digital-era challenges such as misinformation and hate speech that pose significant risks to community stability. Sharp lauded India’s remarkable peacekeeping efforts, specifically acknowledging the country’s 6,000 troops and paying tribute to the 179 peacekeepers who made the ultimate sacrifice. He particularly celebrated India’s historic all-women peacekeeping unit in Liberia as a testament to the country’s progressive approach to international peacekeeping.

The plenary session underscored the complex and evolving nature of global peacekeeping, illuminating the critical challenges in international humanitarian operations while simultaneously highlighting India’s pivotal and transformative role in UN peace missions. The discussions set a robust foundation for the subsequent sessions, emphasizing the need for adaptive, inclusive, and innovative approaches to global peace and security.

Session 3A: Protection of Civilians and Peacekeepers

The session on “Protection of Civilians and Peacekeepers” was chaired by Maj Gen M.P. Bhagat (Retd), who opened with a powerful statement that “the people make the UN.” He critically highlighted how national interests, particularly mineral exploitation, often compromise the protection of vulnerable populations in conflict zones.

Maj. Gen. (Dr) AK Bardalai (Retd), former Deputy Force Commander of UNIFIL, expanded on the complexity of civilian threats. Drawing from his extensive experience in Lebanon, he emphasized that threats extend beyond physical harm to include environmental disasters. Bardalai stressed that local perceptions of peacekeepers are crucial to mission success, asserting that when peacekeepers fail to protect civilians, the entire mission’s legitimacy is undermined.

Brig. Narendra Singh provided critical insights into the vulnerabilities of UN missions. He underscored the fundamental peacekeeping principles of consent, impartiality, and limited force use. Singh advocated for proactive approaches, emphasizing the need for well-trained troops, technological integration for threat assessment, and cohesive mission coordination.

Meher Dev from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) offered an IHL perspective on the protection of civilian population. She elaborated on key International Humanitarian Law principles: distinction (ensuring civilians are not targeted), proportionality in weapon use, and precautionary measures like advance warnings. Dev particularly emphasized the critical importance of protecting medical facilities, ensuring medical treatment access, and safeguarding children’s basic rights.

The session painted a comprehensive picture of the multifaceted challenges in protecting civilians during conflicts, highlighting the need for adaptive, principled, and human-centric peacekeeping approaches. The speakers unanimously emphasized that effective civilian protection requires more than military strategy—it demands a holistic understanding of local contexts, legal frameworks, and humanitarian principles.

Session 3 (B): Climate Change and Security Challenges

Lt. Gen S. Tinaikar (Retd), former Force Commander of UNMISS, opened the session with a stark assessment of the climate crisis, emphasizing 2024 as a critical year for understanding climate’s impact on global security. He articulated the complex relationship between climate change and conflict, noting that while climate may not directly cause conflicts, its security implications are undeniable.

Ingvild Brodtkorb from The Norwegian Institute of International Affairs provided a detailed analysis of climate change’s operational challenges for peacekeeping missions. She highlighted that of the 15 countries hosting peacekeeping missions, 8 are facing severe climate crises. Brodtkorb emphasized how climate challenges affect mission logistics, mobility, and access to communities, fundamentally altering peacekeeping approaches from long-term solutions to immediate short-term measures.

Dr. Dhanashree Jairam offered a nuanced perspective on climate-security intersections, focusing on specific regional challenges. She explored critical issues including transboundary river tensions, Himalayan territorial challenges, and maritime security implications. Of particular concern were the heating of the Indian Ocean, rising sea levels, and intensifying cyclones that threatened coastal regions and naval bases.

The session underscored the urgent need for integrated approaches to climate-security challenges. Speakers unanimously emphasized the importance of contextual assessments, adaptive strategies, and collaborative efforts to address the evolving climate-security landscape. The discussions highlighted how climate change is no longer just an environmental issue, but a critical factor in global peace and security operations.

Key recommendations included incorporating climate advisors in peacekeeping missions, developing more flexible operational approaches, and creating systematic methods to integrate climate factors into mission planning and execution.

Session 3(C) Report: Women in UN Peace Operations

The session on “Women in UN Peace Operations” highlighted the critical role of women in peacekeeping, marking 25 years since the landmark UN Security Council Resolution 1325. Susan Ferguson from UN Women India emphasized how gender inequality fuels conflicts, while women peacekeepers serve as catalysts for community transformation.

Ms. Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, ASG and Deputy Executive Director, UN Women praised India’s contributions to gender equality, particularly highlighting the all-women contingent in Liberia as a pioneering example of women’s empowerment in peace operations.

Col. (Dr) KK Sharma provided crucial statistical insights, revealing that women currently constitute 8.5% of global peacekeepers. He underscored their significant contributions to operational analysis, human rights promotion, and reconciliation efforts.

Major Navita Kashyap shared field experiences, illustrating the unique challenges women peacekeepers face in conflict zones. She emphasized the importance of female engagement teams in building trust and serving as role models for local communities.

Major Radhika Sen, the 2023 Military Gender Advocate Award recipient, offered profound insights from her mission in Congo. She detailed strategies for engaging local populations, including conducting awareness programs, connecting victims with NGOs, and improving coordination between peacekeepers and local communities.

Annika Hilding Norberg highlighted progress, noting that UNPOL has already achieved its 2025 gender parity goals with 20% representation. She stressed the importance of celebrating progress while recognizing the ongoing need for improvement in women’s participation in peace operations.

The session unanimously concluded that women’s participation is not just a matter of equality, but a critical strategic imperative for effective, comprehensive peacekeeping efforts.

Session 4 Report: Future of Peacekeeping

The session explored the evolving landscape of global peace operations, featuring insights from leading international experts. Benoit Pylyser from Challenges Forum emphasized the critical need for UN member states to reaffirm their commitment to global peace, highlighting the concerning trend of dwindling peace operations amid increasing conflicts.

Lt. Gen. JS Lidder (Retd) characterized the current moment as an inflexion point for global peace efforts, asserting that UN peacekeeping remains the sole legitimate global peacekeeping mechanism. He raised crucial questions about the effectiveness of existing UN peacekeeping models in addressing modern complex challenges.

Ai Kihara-Hunt from the University of Tokyo presented a forward-looking perspective, proposing 30 potential peacekeeping models that extend beyond traditional approaches. She stressed the importance of integrated planning across civilians, police, and other agents, and highlighted key success factors including strong Security Council leadership and effective member-state engagement.

Annika Hilding Norberg from the Global Centre for Strategic Peace offered a provocative analysis of emerging peacekeeping paradigms. She explored innovative concepts like robotic peace missions, Arctic and space peacekeeping, and pandemic peacekeeping, challenging the traditional understanding of global peace operations.

Col. (Dr) KK Sharma advocated for a bottom-up approach to peacekeeping, emphasizing the need to prioritize human security and community engagement over state-centric models. He shared examples of Indian peacekeepers’ community-focused interventions, such as humanitarian efforts during the DRC volcano eruption and flood mitigation in Mali.

Sandeep Bali from the ICRC provided a critical perspective on the evolving nature of armed conflicts. He highlighted the alarming rise of over 120 ongoing conflicts, many of which persist for years, accompanied by a growing number of armed groups. Drawing from the ICRC’s “Roots of Behaviour in War” and Roots of restraint studies, Mr Bali reiterated the continued relevance of Humanitarian Law (IHL)in addressing contemporary challenges.

He explored the study’s insights on combatant behaviour, exploring group dynamics such as conformity, obedience to authority, and pathological behaviours. Mr Bali argued that preventing violations requires a fundamental reimagining of IHL, advocating for its integration into operational conduct as a legal and political imperative rather than a mere moral guideline. He encouraged the peacekeepers to take guidance from ICRC studies and engage all stakeholders in dialogue and discussions to influence behaviour towards compliance of IHL. He also shared the ICRC‘s recent global initiative together with six states to galvanize political commitment to IHL.

The session concluded with a sobering assessment of global peace challenges, underscoring the need for adaptive, innovative, and people-centred approaches to international conflict resolution.

Closing Session Report: Future of Global Peace Operations

Ms Uma Sekhar, Additional Secretary (L&T), the Ministry of External Affairs delivered the Valedictory Address, highlighting the evolving nature of conflicts and the need for proactive peacekeeping approaches. She emphasized the core principles of UN Peacekeeping Operations: impartiality, non-use of force, and consent of parties.

Lt. Gen. Satish Nambiar (Retd) provided closing remarks, reflecting on the international community’s challenges and the critical role of women in peacekeeping while expressing concerns about the future of global peace efforts.

The USI Annual UN Forum 2024 comprehensively explored the changing character of conflicts, challenges to peace operations, and international humanitarian law. The two-day forum brought together global experts to discuss critical issues including women’s roles in peacekeeping, climate change’s security implications, and the future of humanitarian interventions.

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To make the mistake of blaming everything on racism would elude an old tale of 2016 when Democratic Party operatives blamed everyone but Hillary Clinton. While the outcome is unexpected it tells you something about America, the democratic party and the world at large.

To quote statistics, Latino men and white women made this possible for Trump. To make matters worse Kamala Harris worsened Biden’s statistics with white women. Her margins in democratic counties like New York plummeted and states like Virginia and Connecticut which should have been easily won by Democrats took a lot of time than expected to be called.

So why?

This tells a cautionary tale about America. The economy still matters the most for everyday Americans and while macroeconomic parameters were stable, at the lowest rung inflation was beyond tame-worthy condition. This mattered the most in blue wall states and especially in Pennsylvania. Latinos who are ascribed the lower rung jobs were the most hit and thence despite Puerto Rico getting called an island of garbage, they overwhelmingly voted for Trump.

The second big reason is immigration which is why Arizona remained red despite turning purple the last time. Kamala Harris being the border tsar and her inability to distinguish herself from Biden cost her the independent swing voters that could have swayed the election in her favour.

The third big reason is elitism. Ever since Obama left office, the democratic party has not only turned left but also identified with the elite Hollywood and the woke culture. While this may not be true in its entirety, it is enough for a sizeable chunk of voters to believe that their voices won’t be heard in the democratic coalition.

The fourth is the inability to create a coherent message. I AM NOT TRUMP is a message good for Twitter but did not resonate much with the voters. An average Wisconsin or Penn State voter was more interested in understanding the vision of the future by Kamala Harris rather than her differentiation from Trump.’ WE ARE NOT GOING BACK’…… screwed up.

Lastly and frankly in the least proportion, Kamala Harris can be blamed for this. She ran a wonderful campaign in 3.5 months, done every interview from Fox to The View to SNL. But she also made some cardinal errors; choosing Tim Walz over Josh Shapiro; the uberly popular governor of Pennsylvania was ignored. No attempt at distinguishing from Biden; Kamala’s famous statement that nothing comes to her mind when asked what things she would do differently sounded alarm for a lot of Americans who were not ready for Biden’s reboot. But she is the last to be blamed.

What next?

What shall happen in Trump’s world is a mystery waiting to unfold. Whether he will act as ‘dictator’ on day one remains to be seen but the Democratic party of today lies in shambles. It had lost the coalition that propped up Obama and Biden quite convincingly. Is there a need to shift left? No, the left had lost its currency already. What is needed is a clear analysis of what went wrong and why is the perception of elitism affixed to the party. There is also a need to understand and not admonish American voters or worse look down upon them for voting for Trump. If history is anything but a guide, that strategy had screwed Democrats far worse than their own misgivings. The need to shun identity politics away and maybe wait for the evolution of society rather than preordain lecturing might also ease the woes of the party.

To put it mildly, the Democratic Party was destroyed on the ballot. What they lost is not just a vote or an election but a generation. The House and the Senate going with the White House and with Trump in charge, everything will be on the line. The first casualty will be the filibuster; an archaic convention that gave a minority in Senate control over a major piece of legislation. With agendas like Project 2025, and more judges on the anvil, the Republican Party will be more than interested to take the filibuster down.

The second casualty will be Reproductive Rights. While the voters looked the other way when democrats were screaming at the top of their lungs, the simple idea that reproductive rights can or no longer be an issue will take one more democratic issue off the ballot leaving them short of a major political plank to fight elections on.

The third will be, The ‘Pariah’ syndrome often attributed to former President Trump by the Democratic Party. When Biden took office, it was attributed that Trump was an aberration, a political novice who got into office only on account of Russian help. Now, with him regaining the office with bigger majorities everywhere, that status would be with Biden and the Modern Republican Party will have Trump etched on its heart forever. One less issue for Democrats to run on.

Whether this election will create a churn in the Democratic Party remains to be seen but the mainstreaming of Trumpism and MAGA is complete. The Democratic Party needs to venture beyond identity politics and understand the core crux of the issue affecting voters in rural and suburbs in order to put up a fight next time. To put it crisply, Trump and his entourage are upon us and one has to live with that at least for the near future.

The election was strange, but it tells a beautiful tale of democracy and optimism. The voters, silent as they waited to exercise their franchise, represented two distinct versions of America. Yet, they overwhelmingly chose one candidate over the other, cutting across various divides. The Vice President conceded graciously, ensuring a peaceful transfer of power, while the victor, in all his mirth, acknowledged the voters who brought him to office.

At first glance, this might appear to be a deeply polarized country, but beneath the surface, it is united in its grievances, needs, and hopes for the future. In the truest sense, the UNITED States of America.

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2024 saw several elections, including India, the largest exercise ever and also Bangladesh that succumbed to its own nuances later. It also saw elections overturning popular expectations in Europe, ending a 17-year stint of the conservative party in the United Kingdom and also the ‘rubber stamp’ election of Putin in Russia. But as they say, the best is yet to come, the world is now steadfast and fixated towards the November zeitgeist also known as the American Presidential Election.

Historically, a once in a 4-year exercise the United States Presidential Election of 2024 is a different game altogether, with a sitting incumbent deciding not to run, historical precedent to be only found in 1968 when President Lyndon B Johnson decided to call it quits. An assassination attempt on a Presidential candidate and a former President of The United States is an idea unheard of at least in modern times. On its flipside, a female Vice President ascending to the top of the ticket and if polls are to be believed standing well within striking distance of victory is also a sight to behold.  Coupled this with AI, misinformation, Silicon Valley oligarchs and their vested interests and you have the great American dream both in tatters and in full display of its diversity and grandeur.

George Washington famously remarked that ‘he’d want to create a nation where everyone can sit under the vine and fig tree without getting afraid’. The American experiment as he calls was in its true sense an experiment and for the fact that it had endured 248 years says a lot about it.

What made it endure so long?

The trifecta of institutions, economic superiority and sense of alienation yet superiority.; institutions, American democracy could withstand pressures because its institutions are strong and unbendable. Even at the height of his career, Nixon had to give in to Watergate, LBJ to Vietnam, Clinton to Lewinsky and Bush to wars. American institutions are built on the edifice of strength and loyalty to the constitution which in every few years is qualified by the American people. Not only this, the far-reaching reforms and the instances of bipartisan legislation and also putting a noose on an unchecked part of the government are also often done by institutions. Not long ago, amidst the cries of hang Mike Pence, the then Vice President presided over the session certifying the election where he lost.

The second is economic superiority, thanks to the wars and relative aloofness from destruction, America retained its economic wherewithal while the world burned. Coupled this with sound economic policies and a relatively open society attracted a lot of immigrants to the US where purely on the basis of innovation and incentive, individuals came and ‘became what they were capable of’ also made America prosperous in the process.

The third is geographical and cultural. Despite coming from different cultures, America was always envisioned as a melting pot where you put in your identities and become American. The relative sense of aloofness and ‘white majority’ demographics kept the cauldron stable. There were instances of violence but nothing precipitated in a crisis as the American institutions and economic superiority kept it stable.

What’s the conflict now?

The institutions that kept the American dream alive are now directly at risk. The courts are getting branded as weaponised by the ruling party, and the elected legislators spewing falsehoods and venomous rhetoric. An Ex-President openly claiming that he’d be a dictator for one day. The carefully crafted checks and balances are getting torn apart by the people who are supposed to protect them.

The economic superiority is also slowly weaning away. Thanks to the rise of China and globalization, the gains are slowly shifting sands and migrating out of America. Couple this with rising inflation and loss of jobs, it easily gives birth to the ‘problem of others where the blame is shifted to someone who doesn’t look like an American’

The racial and demographic shifts are also responsible for the ‘white man’ to deny itself of the superiority it had harboured on itself.

The United States right now is in a weird state of churn where old decrepit ideas are brought back to life and the new are slowly relenting their spaces. Not long ago on January 6th, 2021, the world proclaimed America to be The Ignited States as the ‘protestors’. While it recovered, the crevices are deep, dozing off the fire from the ignited states but portending it towards a conflict of historical proportions.

The election of 2024 is a testament to that conflict. What will happen and thereafter decides which way it will go. Whether it will stay united or become The Conflicted States of America.    

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