By Noah Fishman

Following another session with the Representative of Belgium, the United Nations Historical Security Council of 1961 entered a consultative session and discussed the next moves.

“We have frozen all of their assets and reserves in our nation,” said Representative Nick Gavreau of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The ideological division in approaches to resolving the Congo Crisis is beginning to take shape as the Soviets take action against a North Atlantic Treaty member.

The French Representative spoke up, saying that they have taken similar steps, enacting economic limitations with Belgium, but stopping short of sanctions to avoid larger political consequences. The goal of France is to pressure Belgium to pull their troops from the Congo. This represents the current middle ground of the debate on Belgium’s culpability and actions that should be taken in response.

“They are in direct violation, they have troops in a foreign nation, we have told them to withdraw,” said Representative Sam Schweier of Ecuador. Several Member States have condemned Belgium without unilaterally imposing penalties.

Some Member States have begun broaching sending additional peacekeeping forces to the Congo. “We would support a resolution stating that all troops should leave Congo, but we think that is not enough,” said Representative Sasha Poda of Liberia. The Representative continued, explaining they were interested in a boots-on-the ground approach to enforcement. The delegation of Chile also voiced concern that this conflict cannot end without intervention but explained that it was not their foremost desire.

Additional deployment of forces is also growing in popularity among the P5. “We have tried every peaceful method possible, we need to start looking at peacekeeping forces as a legitimate option now,” said Representative Dustin Ramsey of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.