United Nations (UN)

Estonia’s Shiny Event at the UN Exposed Deep Disagreements with Russia

On 8–9 May, the world commemorated the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe. One of the highlights of this occasion was supposed to be a magnificent military parade in Moscow, with a number of world leaders attending to celebrate the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazism. However, the Covid-19 pandemic forced Russia to postpone the parade. It also inspired Estonia to organise an innovative high-level event at the UN that can be considered a success in both organisational and substantive terms.

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Estonia in the UN Security Council: The Importance and Limits of European Cooperation

In January 2020, Estonia became a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for a two-year term. The international environment, meanwhile, is becoming increasingly challenging for multilateral cooperation and a rules-based global order. The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the lack of global leadership, previously provided by the US, and inability of the UNSC to mobilise international cooperation.

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Estonian Foreign Policy on a Darkening Landscape

The elections are over and the main options of Estonian foreign policy seem to have been confirmed: membership of the EU and NATO, maintaining strong relations with our allies and investing in defence capability are the pillars that the next government is expected not to disturb.

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UN Compact and Foreign Policy Sour Grapes

While the UN Global Compact on Migration has very limited direct relevance for Estonia, a refusal to endorse it would undermine the country’s reputation, relationship with its allies and partners, as well as multilateral cooperation, writes Kristi Raik, Director of the Estonian Foreign Policy Institute at the International Centre for Defence and Security (ICDS).

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Minsk Deadlock Three Years Later

The 12th of February marks three years since the package of measures aimed at implementing Minsk agreement of 5 September 2014 was signed (figuratively referred to as Minsk I and Minsk II).

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Kremlin’s UN Gambit in the Donbas

Answers as to why Russia has proposed the UN protection mission for the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine are fleeting. This initiative from its outset appears to be highly questionable even without considering whatever hidden agenda the Kremlin is pursuing.

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