2000 in international relations

2000 in international relations
Year	2000

2000 in international relations was a year marked by significant diplomatic initiatives and persistent conflicts. The Second Intifada erupted in the Middle East, while the United Nations launched major peacekeeping missions in Sierra Leone and Eritrea. Major summits, including the Millennium Summit in New York City, sought to address global challenges, and international treaties like the Kyoto Protocol advanced despite geopolitical tensions.

Major conflicts and peace processes

The Second Intifada, or Al-Aqsa Intifada, began in late September following the controversial visit of Ariel Sharon to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, leading to intense violence between Israelis and Palestinians. In Africa, the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) struggled to contain violence from the Revolutionary United Front, culminating in a crisis where hundreds of UN peacekeepers were taken hostage near Freetown. Meanwhile, following the Algiers Agreement, the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) was established to monitor the ceasefire in the Horn of Africa. In Europe, the Kosovo War aftermath continued with NATO-led KFOR troops maintaining stability in Pristina.

Diplomatic events and summits

The United Nations hosted the landmark Millennium Summit at its UN Headquarters in New York City, gathering leaders like Kofi Annan, Bill Clinton, and Vladimir Putin to adopt the United Nations Millennium Declaration. In June, the first-ever summit between the leaders of North Korea and South Korea took place in Pyongyang, where Kim Jong-il and Kim Dae-jung signed the June 15th North–South Joint Declaration. The European Union held the Nice Summit, finalizing the Treaty of Nice to prepare for eastern enlargement. Russian President Vladimir Putin made significant state visits to London and Havana, strengthening ties with Britain and Cuba.

Treaties and agreements

Key international treaties saw critical developments, with negotiations continuing for the Kyoto Protocol following the failed COP 6 conference in The Hague. The United States and Vietnam signed a pivotal U.S.–Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement, normalizing economic relations. In Northern Ireland, the Good Friday Agreement implementation continued with the Patten Report leading to reforms of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. The Ottawa Treaty banning anti-personnel mines gained further ratifications, while the International Criminal Court's Rome Statute moved closer to entering into force.

International organizations

The United Nations Security Council authorized new missions, including UNMEE and an expansion of UNAMSIL, while grappling with crises in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and East Timor. The World Trade Organization faced protests at its ministerial conference in Seattle the previous year, setting the stage for ongoing debates about globalization. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) maintained its KFOR presence in Kosovo and engaged in partnership talks with several Partnership for Peace countries. The African Union was formally established in Sirte, succeeding the Organization of African Unity.

Humanitarian crises and responses

A severe famine threatened over Ethiopia and Eritrea, exacerbated by the recent border war, prompting large-scale relief efforts by the World Food Programme and International Committee of the Red Cross. In Mozambique, catastrophic flooding from Cyclone Eline displaced hundreds of thousands, leading to a major international aid operation coordinated by UNICEF and Médecins Sans Frontières. The HIV/AIDS pandemic was declared a global security threat by the UN Security Council, a first for a health issue. Refugee crises persisted from conflicts in Chechnya, Afghanistan, and Sierra Leone.

Economic and environmental issues

The dot-com bubble burst began affecting global markets, with significant repercussions in Wall Street and NASDAQ. The European Union introduced the euro as an electronic currency for financial transactions, a major step towards monetary union. Environmental diplomacy was dominated by the stalled Kyoto Protocol talks, with the European Union pushing for ratification against opposition from the United States and OPEC nations. The World Bank and International Monetary Fund faced criticism during their spring meetings in Washington, D.C. for structural adjustment policies.

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