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So the #UnitedNations Security Council has ended 2020 in a very bad mood, with @Chinamission2un getting very personal with @GermanyUN. How did we get here? And will UNSC diplomacy get nicer or nastier in 2021?
Here's thread about diplomats being rude @UN
[1/10] https://twitter.com/gadyepstein/status/1341609462394712065
Here's thread about diplomats being rude @UN
[1/10] https://twitter.com/gadyepstein/status/1341609462394712065
UNSC diplomacy has actually been pretty toxic for a while, as I argued in this piece on "insult diplomacy" between @RussiaUN and the West over #Syria in 2018.[2/10] https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/24571/why-the-security-council-must-stop-the-insult-diplomacy-over-syria
In 2020, we have seen a further rise in insult-based diplomacy between @USUN and @Chinamission2un in the UNSC over #COVID19, as I chronicled @CIRSD (and other pieces) @CrisisGroup through the year. [3/10] https://www.cirsd.org/en/horizons/horizons-autumn-2020-issue-no-17/the-un-at-crossroads-of-covid-19
It is, however, important to distinguish between some of @USUN's efforts to bait @Chinamission2un over #COVID19 (like talking about "Wuhan virus") and @GermanyUN's more principled criticisms, as I explained @fesnewyork last week. https://www.fesny.org/article/macroscope-germanys-tenure-on-the-un-security-council-201920/ [4/10]
![It is, however, important to distinguish between some of @USUN's efforts to bait @Chinamission2un over #COVID19 (like talking about "Wuhan virus") and @GermanyUN's more principled criticisms, as I explained @fesnewyork last week. https://www.fesny.org/article/macroscope-germanys-tenure-on-the-un-security-council-201920/ [4/10]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ep8oHC9WMAcFf74.png "It is, however, important to distinguish between some of @USUN's efforts to bait @Chinamission2un over #COVID19 (like talking about \"Wuhan virus\") and @GermanyUN's more principled criticisms, as I explained @fesnewyork last week. https://www.fesny.org/article/macroscope-germanys-tenure-on-the-un-security-council-201920/ [4/10]")
Ultimately, a lot of these arguments (fatuous or principled) don't actually affect UNSC debates on concrete issues like @UNPeacekeeping, as I recently noted @CrisisGroup. [5/10] https://www.crisisgroup.org/global/un-peacekeeping-fragmenting-international-order
Nonetheless, public displays of anger among the P5 don't exactly help the UNSC's credibility or effectiveness, and @UN diplomats are wondering if the #Biden administration and @LindaT_G change these dynamics. [6/10] https://www.crisisgroup.org/global/repairing-damage-us-diplomacy-un-security-council
Frankly, I do not expect the change of U.S. administration to reverse the long-running deterioration of relations between Russia and the P3 (and other Western members of the UNSC), as I noted @CrisisGroup: [7/10]
![Frankly, I do not expect the change of U.S. administration to reverse the long-running deterioration of relations between Russia and the P3 (and other Western members of the UNSC), as I noted @CrisisGroup: [7/10]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ep8qA-zXIAEZg6u.png "Frankly, I do not expect the change of U.S. administration to reverse the long-running deterioration of relations between Russia and the P3 (and other Western members of the UNSC), as I noted @CrisisGroup: [7/10]")
By contrast, we may see an easing in tensions with #China in the #UNSC (especially over #climatechange and #COVID19) but I don't think @USUN and its allies will stop raising #Xinjiang, #humanrights, etc. [8/10]
![By contrast, we may see an easing in tensions with #China in the #UNSC (especially over #climatechange and #COVID19) but I don't think @USUN and its allies will stop raising #Xinjiang, #humanrights, etc. [8/10]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ep8qgCNXYAIFvLL.png "By contrast, we may see an easing in tensions with #China in the #UNSC (especially over #climatechange and #COVID19) but I don't think @USUN and its allies will stop raising #Xinjiang, #humanrights, etc. [8/10]")
I made a similar argument about @UKUN_NewYork's attitude to @Chinamission2un in the UNSC @FPCThinkTank last week. London doesn't want a Cold War @UN, but it isn't going to give up on #humanrights, the #Uighurs and #HongKong. [9/10] https://fpc.org.uk/brexit-britain-at-the-united-nations/
So we will see more insults fly in the #UNSC, especially but not only among the P5. It's the task of @antonioguterres and @UN officials to try to keep the UNSC honest by offering impartial facts and analysis on #Syria, #COVID19 and other files. [ENDS] https://www.crisisgroup.org/global/salvaging-security-councils-coronavirus-response
