India, U.S. looking at training South East Asian nations in U.N. peacekeeping
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With China considerably scaling up its troop contribution for United Nations Peace Keeping (UNPK) missions, India and the U.S. are looking to undertake training of navy personnel for the missions from South East Asian international locations on the strains of the continued initiative for African international locations.
“The U.S. is keen on undertaking joint training of South East Asian countries in the U.N. peacekeeping and discussions are under way,” an official supply mentioned on Friday. India has persistently been among the many high troop contributing nations to the U.N. and is the fifth largest with 5,424 personnel in eight international locations. The U.S. however has by no means contributed floor troops however contributes 27% of the U.N. peace conserving funds.
In 2016, India and the U.S. started a joint annual initiative “UN Peacekeeping Course for African Partners” to construct and improve the capability of African troop and police-contributing international locations to take part in the U.N. and regional peacekeeping operations. While this is occurring, the U.S. is eager on the same initiative for South East Asian nations like Vietnam and others, the supply mentioned.
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China is considerably increasing its troop contribution to the U.N. in addition to the funding, mentioned a second supply. “It currently has over 2,500 troops in various U.N. missions and has committed another 8,000 troops as standby,” the supply mentioned. Once carried out, it’s going to make China the biggest supplier of troops to the UNPK.
China presently contributes 12% of the U.N. common basic funds and 15% of the peace conserving funds. India’s contribution to the common funds is 0.83% and 0.16% of the peacekeeping funds.
India has to this point participated in 51 of the 71 missions and contributed over 2 lakh personnel. It has troop deployment in Lebanon, Golan Heights, Congo and South Sudan in addition to workers officers in different missions. India has additionally arrange two area hospitals in South Sudan and one in Congo.
Since 2018, India has co-opted a contingent from Kazakhstan at the mission in Lebanon. There are 120 Kazakh troopers in the battalion of over 800 troopers who’ve now been requested to arrange their very own mission as they’ve gained expertise, the primary officer mentioned. Bhutan too has expressed curiosity in becoming a member of a U.N. mission inside the Indian contingent. “We have offered them [Bhutan] to join the mission in South Sudan but they want to be part of the mission in Lebanon. But we already have Kazakh contingent there. We are discussing that,” he mentioned.
Indian troops are a lot wanted in U.N. missions. “We have around 5,500 troops in eight countries of Africa and West Asia. They work tirelessly to maintain peace in conflict zones. Their contribution has been applauded by all and Indian troops are most sought after,” mentioned a Major General MK Katiyar, Additional Director General Staff Duties, after addressing an Indian battalion set to depart for South Sudan finish of this month. During the COVID pandemic, the sphere hospitals there have finished nice job, he mentioned.
The first batch of 200 personnel from the contingent to South Sudan is scheduled to depart on November 27. As a part of COVID precautions, all personnel going for U.N. missions are being examined for COVID by Reverse Transcription – Polymerase Chain Reaction(RT-PCR) methodology 21 days earlier than departure after which quarantined. A second take a look at is performed 72 hours earlier than departure and solely these testing destructive go on deployment.
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