Who is in charge of peacekeeping?
Although peacekeeping is not specifically mentioned in the United Nations Charter, the Charter gives the Security Council primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. The Council creates and defines peacekeeping missions. Its 5 permanent members – China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States – can veto any decision on peacekeeping operations. The Secretary-General directs and manages UN peacekeeping operations and reports to the Council on a mission’s progress. Through the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, the Secretary-General formulates policies and procedures and makes recommendations on the establishment of new missions and on the functioning of ongoing missions. Soldiers on UN peacekeeping missions do not swear allegiance to the United Nations. Governments that volunteer military and civilian police personnel carefully negotiate the terms of their participation. They retain ultimate authority over their ow
