Former Minister Wilmot Paye has issued a strong caution to Liberia’s political leadership, urging restraint, strategic clarity, and national self-interest as the country assumes its two-year tenure as a Non-Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
In a sharply worded reflection on Liberia’s historical and contemporary foreign policy challenges, Paye warned that careless statements or ill-considered alignments could once again expose the country to dangerous global power rivalries, similar to those that affected Liberia during the Cold War era.
“Unwise moves and utterances in the 1970s exposed Liberia to the fierce geopolitical rivalry of the Cold War,” Paye recalled, stressing that history offers clear lessons that must not be ignored.
He emphasized that Liberia’s UNSC seat should not be used for impulsive commentary on global tensions, but rather as a platform guided by a well-defined national strategy.
According to Paye, Liberia’s overriding priority should be domestic transformation.
He argued that the country must focus on how to harness its vast natural resource potential to reduce poverty, respond to citizens’ needs, and build a productive and prosperous economy that offers opportunities for all Liberians.
“Our two-year tenure as a Non-Permanent Member on the United Nations Security Council should not deceive us into adopting a rash posture that catapults Liberia into the firing line of any unpredictable global power play,” he cautioned. “A firm focus on our domestic situation should inform our actions outside.”
Paye noted that the global geopolitical landscape is rapidly evolving, marked by shifting alliances and intensifying rivalries among major powers. In such an environment, he said, Liberia must act with wisdom and caution, not emotion or sentimentality.
Reflecting on Liberia’s past leadership, Paye suggested that former President William Richard Tolbert’s ambitious development policies, such as “Total Involvement for Higher Heights,” “From Mats to Mattress,” and industrialization-might have better shielded the country from Cold War pressures had they been pursued with greater focus and consistency.
The former minister also sought to temper public expectations surrounding Liberia’s UNSC membership. While describing the seat as a significant diplomatic achievement, he stressed that it neither guarantees global peace nor signals the resolution of Liberia’s internal challenges.
“Our two-year tenure on the UNSC, though a welcomed diplomatic feat, cannot and will definitely not guarantee world peace,” Paye stated. “It is recognition of Liberia’s historic role and genuine reentry into the world community. This is not any guarantee that we have achieved internal cohesion.”
He concluded by reminding policymakers and citizens alike that Liberia remains part of a fragile region and must therefore prioritize stability, unity, and development at home while engaging the international community with prudence and strategic discipline.
