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UN Chief Urges Action on Peacekeeping Crisis, Launches Reform Review

António Guterres calls for urgent financial commitments and operational reforms as peacekeeping faces $2.7 billion in arrears and record global conflict levels.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul attends a press conference with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, during the United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial, an international conference on peacekeeping missions, in Berlin, Germany May 14, 2025. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres meets with peacekeepers in Naqoura, Lebanon.

Overview

  • The United Nations peacekeeping budget faces a critical $2.7 billion shortfall, with major contributors like the U.S. and China owing substantial arrears.
  • Secretary-General António Guterres announced an urgent review to develop a streamlined peacekeeping model with clear exit strategies and focused mandates.
  • Germany and other nations pledged potential additional funding, contingent on efficiency improvements and reduced bureaucracy in peacekeeping operations.
  • Active missions in conflict zones, including Congo, South Sudan, and Lebanon, highlight the essential role of peacekeepers in maintaining security and aiding vulnerable populations.
  • Despite representing just 0.5% of global military spending, UN peacekeeping remains a vital tool for international stability, according to Guterres.