unfilGlen Segell
(Professor: NATO-EU Strategy Group, was educated to a Doctor of Philosophy (Oxford),
and holds the rank of Brigadier-General (Reserves).

Copyright: @ 2026 Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) Publication date: 4 January 2026

Note: The article reflects the opinion of the author and not necessarily the views of the Research Institute for European and American Studies.

In 2025, the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions marked 77 years of their operations. That same year also witnessed the beginning of the end of one of the longest missions, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Many have suggested that the 'F' in UNIFIL stands for 'Farce' rather than 'Force', given that the mission has incurred a cost of $12.3 billion in nominal terms. As of early 2026, it comprises around 11,000 troops from 48 different countries... Read more