The Heritage Foundation has expressed approval of the Trump administration's efforts to end the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Professor Eugene Kontorovich, a senior research fellow at the foundation, said that UNIFIL had become ineffective and served as "human shields for a terror group out of cowardice, laziness, and in some cases, hostility to Israel." He criticized the U.N. for being filled with "failed and wasteful entities" that are financially supported by American taxpayers.
Kontorovich highlighted that peacekeeping missions are unique because the U.S. has the power to terminate them independently. He expressed support for Secretary Rubio and Ambassador-designate Mike Waltz in their efforts to redirect American funds back home.
The United Nations Security Council has adopted a resolution declaring 2026 as the final year for UNIFIL's mission. The Heritage Foundation has long advocated for its termination, viewing it as a symbol of broader U.N. failures and corruption. The foundation sees this move as evidence of President Donald J. Trump's commitment to reforming the U.N., rather than continuing financial support without accountability.
UNIFIL was established in 1978 to monitor a ceasefire in Lebanon but was later tasked with disarming Hezbollah in 2005. However, it failed to prevent Hezbollah from amassing weapons or attacking Israel after October 7, 2023. Instead of fulfilling its primary role, UNIFIL focused on organizing lectures on gender ideology.
The United States was the largest contributor to UNIFIL, spending approximately $150 million annually. Kontorovich criticized this expenditure as part of a broader pattern where American leadership funds corrupt or obsolete U.N. organizations without sufficient oversight.
The Heritage Foundation plans to continue advocating for reviews of other peacekeeping missions worldwide, including those in Morocco (MINURSO), Central African Republic (MINUSCA), and Israel (UNTSO). They caution against complacency since UNIFIL will not officially end until 2026, warning that European countries might attempt to influence the Trump administration to extend funding further.
Kontorovich concluded by commending President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for recognizing that "inertia and business as usual are the U.N.’s modus operandi," urging vigilance against any last-minute changes.
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