Creation of a UN Standing Force

It has already been nearly four and a half years since Russia invaded Ukraine. There are plans to deploy a multinational force—led by a coalition of the willing including the UK and France—following a ceasefire in Ukraine. However, Russia strongly opposes the deployment of European troops. The gathering of the top leaders from China, Russia, and North Korea at a Chinese military parade was clearly intended to showcase a military alliance among the three nations. Why did they do this? It is said that Russia wants to station Chinese troops as peacekeepers in Ukraine should a ceasefire be reached. However, Ukraine opposes this, and the prospect of peace seems increasingly distant.

So, what should be done? Now is the time to consider Creation of a UN Standing Force. Take, for instance, Russia's invasion of Ukraine. If a UN Standing Force composed of third-party nations included soldiers from countries with good relations with Russia—such as India or Turkey—it could create a "peace barrier" that neither the UK and France nor Russia itself would easily challenge, thereby fostering dialogue toward a ceasefire and peace.

While the concept of a UN Standing Force can take various forms, former Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa proposed three specific models. I will designate them as the "simplified model," the "intermediate model," and the "full-scale model." If we were to address the current Russian invasion of Ukraine, the simplified model—which can be formed quickly and at minimal cost—would be a viable option.
Under this model, only the command structure and headquarters personnel would be permanent during peacetime; when deployment becomes necessary, member nations would be asked to contribute troops in proportion to their capabilities. These troops would serve as international civil servants—members of the UN Standing Force—and operate under UN command.
In the case of the full-scale model, UN member states would contribute funds for the force's maintenance based on their national strength; the UN would use these funds to directly recruit personnel from around the world and manage the force itself. Naturally, the troops would hold the status of international civil servants. Global military spending has risen for eleven consecutive years, reaching a record high of $2.887 trillion (approximately 460 trillion yen) in 2025. If even 1% of that amount were allocated to a UN Standing Force  , it would total 4.6 trillion yen—enough to secure a force of over 100,000 troops.
While nations are increasing their military spending by an average of about 3% in an effort to enhance security, a new form of security could be achieved by utilizing just one-third of that increase—that is, 1% of the total.