• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

With Conflicts at Highest Since 1946, United Nations Peacekeeping Remains Lifeline for Millions, Senior Official Tells Security Council

Meetings Coverage
Security Council

9991st Meeting (AM)

SC/16162
9 September 2025

Peace operations must be adaptable but grounded in political solutions, nationally owned but well-coordinated across stakeholders, and equipped with emerging technologies to succeed amid global challenges and severe resource constraints, the Security Council heard today during an all-day open debate on the future of UN peace efforts.

Over 60,000 peacekeepers from 115 Member States are serving in 11 missions, protecting civilians, mediating conflicts and preventing escalation, reported Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations. Despite rising global conflicts, which reached a record high of 61 active conflicts in 2024 — "the most since 1946" — the UN continues to advance its Action for Peacekeeping+ initiative and efforts towards improved mission planning, gender parity, peacekeeper safety and accountability.

"Peacekeeping is not a luxury; it is a lifeline for millions who count on it for a future without fear," he underscored, stressing that host States and troop- and police-contributing countries, regional actors and local communities must be clearly reflected in peace mandates. He urged the Council's "strong, unified and ongoing support" to "advance durable political solutions", so that peacekeeping, which must be backed by clear mandates, political engagement and timely payments of assessed contributions, can withdraw without the threat of renewed conflict. Citing a notable increase in available data and sources, he said digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) must be harnessed "to assess the effectiveness of our responses".

Peace Operations Must Adapt to Fragmented Conflicts

Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, highlighted that for eight decades, peace operations have enabled the UN to address critical peace and security challenges and save lives. However, UN missions now operate in an increasingly fragmented geopolitical landscape, marked by internationalized conflicts, non-State armed groups and the weaponization of technologies like AI and drones. "To draw lessons for the future, we must learn from the past," she stated, reflecting on the UN's historical successes in helping end wars and facilitating peace agreements in nearly 100 countries.

However, most missions lack comprehensive peace agreements and often operate in politically volatile situations or ongoing civil war contexts, she said. Therefore, initial goals must be limited, focusing on violence prevention, ceasefires and fragile peace processes. In addition, peace operations and UN country teams must be better coordinated, with stronger complementarity across political, development, humanitarian and human rights efforts. She warned against "one-size-fits-all approaches" and stressed that weak implementation of mandates often stems from a lack of political support locally, regionally and globally. She urged "a laser-like focus" on addressing "the political questions at the heart of each conflict and finding multilateral responses to them".

Thomas Zahneisen (Germany), Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission, highlighting its role in fostering nationally led peacebuilding, said the Commission has sought to secure sustained political and financial support throughout mission implementation and drawdown by convening regional organizations, international financial institutions, development banks and UN entities. In Liberia, Sierra Leone and Burundi, the Commission facilitated coordination among peacekeeping operations, UN country teams, international financial institutions and regional actors. These cases show how the Commission bridges political, security and development dimensions. In the Central African Republic, the Commission complemented security responses with institution-building, reconciliation and development. Meanwhile, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Peacebuilding Fund invested in reconciliation and stabilization during the withdrawal of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).

Citing key practices for success, he underscored the importance of fostering national ownership and partnerships and maintaining support after mission transition to avoid relapse into conflict. "By aligning peacebuilding efforts based on the principle of national ownership and leadership, we can make peace operations not only more agile and tailored, but also more sustainable, effective and impactful," he said.

Jenna Russo, Director of Research and Head of the Brian Urquhart Center for Peace Operations, International Peace Institute, said that as the Organization undertakes UN80, its system-wide reform initiative, "policymakers must take care not to eliminate parts of the system that could be essential for addressing the crises of tomorrow". The UN's comparative advantage lies in its deep institutional knowledge and unmatched ability to support a range of tasks across peace operations and peacebuilding, she said, stressing that this capability "should not be discarded".

While new technologies, better peacekeeper training, or improved data collection are often seen as solutions, "peace operations often struggle to achieve their mandates because parties on the ground refuse to engage in a political process or because the Council fails to provide missions with the political backing they need", she stressed. She cautioned against a "back to basics" approach, underscoring the importance of human rights and gender equality for sustainable peace. She voiced hope that "the UN can emerge from this moment stronger and better able to serve the global community", but it requires vision, strong and creative diplomacy and a relentless commitment to deliver on the Charter of the United Nations, she added.

In the ensuing debate, Member States emphasized the crucial role of UN peace operations, with many echoing calls for mandates that can adapt to changing needs.

Mandates Must Be Context-Specific, Adapted to Evolving Conflicts

The Republic of Korea's representative, Council President for September, in his national capacity, urged the 15-member organ to "translate the consensus on tailored and agile missions into concrete practice". Regular assessments should accompany mandate renewals and allow adjustments as conditions evolve on the ground.

Similarly, Denmark's representative said mandates must be both context-specific and sequenced to adapt to evolving conflicts. Strategic assessments by the UN are key to achieving this, she added, urging the Organization to invest more in developing and institutionalizing an integrated planning process across all peace operations.

Germany's representative emphasized that protection considerations must be integrated in future planning of UN peace operations. Similarly, Guyana's representative emphasized that the protection of civilians, the promotion of human rights and the full implementation of the women, peace and security agenda are essential to building lasting peace. These are not ancillary functions and must therefore be at the core of peacekeeping operations, she stressed.

The United Kingdom's delegate underscored the importance of improving peace operations by providing proper training and equipment. Performance and conduct standards must be upheld, with a zero-tolerance policy for sexual exploitation and abuse, he emphasized.

Sierra Leone's representative said his country's own journey from conflict to peace and democracy stands as "living testimony to the transformative impact of UN peace operations". Echoing other speakers, he said "mandates should be clear, sequenced and aligned with broader political strategies", as envisaged in the Pact for the Future.

Other delegations urged focus on the core mandate of peace operations. Among them was China's delegate who said peace operations must focus on political objectives. The Council should prepare a clear practical and prioritized mandate and "set out a clear and visible exit strategy". Moreover, mandates must not be held hostage by the policies of any individual country. As a major troop-contributing country and second largest financial contributor, his country has proposed the Global Governance Initiative to promote sovereign equality, he added.

The Russian Federation's delegate echoed that view, noting that some missions have become a vehicle for promoting ideological agendas at odds with host countries' values. He stressed that focus should be on facilitating political settlements and creating security conditions that a host State or States cannot achieve. Disagreements in the Council arise when missions are loaded with tasks not directly related to peace mandates, he pointed out, such as excessive involvement in domestic issues, human rights and climate change.

UN Must Return to Its Foundational Purpose of Maintaining Peace, Security

"We need to get back to basics," emphasized the delegate of the United States, advocating for "UN return to its foundational purpose of maintaining international peace and security". To improve accountability, performance excellence must be better rewarded and incentivized. Concurrently, expedient and consistently applied consequences must also be imposed, including for performance failures, conduct and discipline issues, and resource mismanagement.

Speakers also reiterated calls for stronger partnerships, local engagement and sustained funding to address present challenges. "Let us keep building bridges to overcome polarization", urged Panama's delegate, citing rising extremism, accelerating climate change and the use of algorithms both as tools of impunity in elections and as weapons of war. He urged stronger international cooperation with the private sector, international financial institutions and development banks.

Importance of Fostering Dialogue, Addressing Root Causes of Conflict

"Nowhere is the need for adaptation more evident than in Africa, where the complexity of conflicts demands innovative approaches," stated Somalia's delegate, highlighting the continent's "direct experience, as a host of peacekeeping missions [and] a troop-contributing region". It is impossible to achieve sustainable and lasting peace without addressing the underlying root causes of conflict, in particular, inequalities and underdevelopment. To this end, he advocated for the increased nationalization of UN posts and the prioritization of local procurement. Investing in local economies in post-conflict settings is not just about operational efficiency; it is a direct investment in peacebuilding and reversing the despair that fuels conflict, he underscored.

Similarly, Brazil's delegate said successful peace operations must remain "anchored in clear political strategies that foster dialogue and address root causes of conflict". The full participation of women and youth and local communities "are not optional add-ons, they are integral to building legitimacy, trust, and long-lasting peace", he added. Moreover, peace operations require predictable, adequate and sustainable funding, efficient logistics and management, and modern capabilities to respond to evolving challenges on the ground.

Ethiopia's delegate appealed for predictable, sustainable financing for regional and subregional initiatives, including those of the African Union, and stressed the value of joint planning, training and burden-sharing. The ongoing UN review of peace operations must prioritize its modernization, the safety and security of peacekeepers and the active engagement of local communities as vital stakeholders in peacebuilding, he added.

Pakistan's representative, noting that peacekeeping is the "UN's greatest success story" and "the most cost-effective instrument of peace", urged the full and timely payment of assessed contributions. Troop and police-contributing countries remain "mostly excluded from crucial decisions", he pointed out, stressing that "this divide between mandate drafters and mandate implementers must end". Structured consultations with those contributing countries, at every stage, are vital, he emphasized.

On that note, Italy's representative said: "Operational documents should be thoroughly analysed to find every feasible action that can contribute to the best implementation of a mandate, involving as much as possible the troop-contributing countries in the planning phases."

Enhanced Partnerships with Regional Actors

Indonesia's delegate added that consulting more closely with host nations is key. He called for continued efforts to expand financing, including through stronger partnerships with regional organizations, international financial institutions and civil society. This can prevent the relapse of conflicts while paving ways to peacebuilding efforts, he said.

Algeria's delegate emphasized that cost effectiveness should not be equated with doing less, but "should mean doing better", delivering more strategic, focused and result-driven missions with the resources at hand. He called for enhanced partnerships with host countries regional actors, particularly the African Union, which, he added, should not be perceived only as a cheap military actor, but as a strategic political partner. For its part, Algeria has trained more than 17,000 officers from more than 30 African countries, he said.

Speakers also drew attention to the use of innovation and technology as both a tool and a threat in peace operations. India's representative, highlighting technology as "a force multiplier" in achieving peacekeepers' mandates, affirmed his country's readiness to provide technology and specialized capabilities to peacekeeping operations.

Japan's delegate stressed that enhanced capacities against the growing threats of improvised explosive devices, drones, artificial intelligence (AI), misinformation, disinformation and hate speech are vital to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel. His country is providing training to counter improvised explosive devices and strengthen peacekeeping intelligence and situational awareness through the UN Triangular Partnership Programme.

"Constant investments are required in technologies and real-time data-analysis capacity to improve situational awareness and security, as well as in mobility and advanced logistics," added Uruguay's representative. She also called for continuous high-quality training with lessons learned to improve the effectiveness of missions.

The representative of Greece, however, cautioned that while technology, particularly AI, can provide tremendous possibilities to enhance operational efficiency and reduce risks to personnel, "we must guard against the misuse of such technologies".

Delegates also highlighted specific UN missions that play vital roles in regional stability and peacebuilding efforts, underscoring its successes and ongoing challenges.

The representative of France highlighted the ongoing work of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), which continues to protect the lives of civilians from armed groups. She also noted the efforts of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), which has made significant progress in extending State authority and enhancing security through effective collaboration with the Government of the Central African Republic and its armed forces. "Political objectives must dictate the resources allocated to missions, and not the other way around," she stressed.

Importance of Preventing a Security Vacuum

As the host country of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) since 1978, Lebanon has consistently viewed its presence as a cornerstone of stability in the southern part of the country and key to supporting calm along the Blue Line, said that country's representative. With UNIFIL's scheduled drawdown and withdrawal beginning in December 2026, she stressed the importance of preventing a security vacuum that could undo hard-earned gains, calling for urgent, tangible and substantial support to the Lebanese Armed Forces. She also emphasized the need for Israel to fully implement Council resolution 1701 (2006), immediately withdrawing from all occupied Lebanese territories and ending persistent violations of Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Throughout the debate, speakers urged unified political will to enable effective peace operations. Nepal's representative joined other delegates in calling on the Council for clear, focused and adaptable mandates, backed by adequate resources and free from operational caveats. They require well-defined exit strategies, integrating political, development and humanitarian efforts to avoid post-withdrawal vacuums, he added.

Slovenia's delegate was among speakers who underscored the primacy of politics, stressing that "no peace operation can substitute for inclusive, nationally-owned political processes". Moreover, peacekeeping must be matched with diplomacy, mediation and prevention, backed by the Secretary-General's good offices. He urged the Council to show "unity of purpose and provide credible mandates", warning that "inaction carries a cost, and it is civilians who pay it".

Morocco's representative underscored that the current comprehensive review of all peace operations is a necessary exercise to tailor States' multilateral actions and consider realities imposed by geopolitical developments. Multifaceted threats to peace and security have not spared any space — land, sea or the digital — he cautioned, underscoring that "political solutions are critical for lasting conflict resolutions".