By Ramesh Jaura

BERLIN, Germany | 16 May 2025 (WorldView) — “Complex demands and diminishing resources are testing the limits of current peacekeeping approaches,” stated Johann Wadephul, Germany’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, at the 2025 Peacekeeping Ministerial held in Berlin on 13 -14 May. UN and Member State representatives convened to discuss the future of peacekeeping, advocating for reforms to enhance its effectiveness and efficiency.

The meeting took place against a backdrop of escalating challenges: global conflicts have surged to their highest levels since World War II, growing increasingly complex and perilous. Additionally, Member States responsible for establishing peacekeeping mandates have become more polarized.

An Investment in Peace

Despite these challenges, “every UN peacekeeping mission is a worthwhile investment,” affirmed Minister Wadephul. “We want UN blue helmets to continue being a vital instrument of peace, protecting millions of civilians and monitoring ceasefires.”

He noted that missions have proven effective in preventing the onset of violence, mitigating conflicts, and averting the recurrence of hostilities. Their presence has also significantly reduced civilian casualties. Peacekeepers have facilitated durable peace in numerous countries, including Cambodia, Côte d’Ivoire, El Salvador, Liberia, Namibia, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, and Timor-Leste.

Bigger challenges, fewer resources

Investment in peacekeeping has decreased. Currently, over 70,000 civilian, military, and police peacekeepers are working in 11 operations globally, serving countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lebanon, and Cyprus. By comparison, Berlin has a police force of 26,000.

Peacekeeping’s current budget is $5.6 billion, which is about half of what it was ten years ago. It represents 0.5% of global military spending.

The U.S. is the UN’s largest contributor — with China second — accounting for 22% of the $3.7 billion core regular UN budget and 27% of the $5.6 billion peacekeeping budget. These payments are mandatory. The UN’s peacekeeping budget runs on a July-June cycle. However, many Member States are behind on their payments, owing a total of $2.7 billion, exacerbating the funding issue.

“It is essential that all Member States meet their financial obligations by paying their contributions in full and on time,” António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Adapting to a new reality

UN officials and Member States discussed the need for comprehensive reforms to adapt to current circumstances. They suggested tailoring missions to local contexts, creating more focused mandates, and increasing local ownership as ways to strengthen peacekeeping operations. Allowing for more flexible use of resources was considered important for improving efficiencies. There were also calls for stronger political support for peacekeeping missions, including from the Security Council. General Birame Diop, Senegal’s Minister of Armed Forces, noted, “We have political divisions impacting everything we are trying to achieve as a team.”

Making peacekeeping fit for the future

 UN Member States emphasized the importance of using limited resources effectively and efficiently to ensure peacekeeping missions continue their work. Catherine Pollard, UN Under-Secretary-General for Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance, stated, “The value of peacekeeping is undeniable… but there is always more to do.” Discussions will continue tomorrow with specialized sessions that will explore how these reform suggestions can be implemented. (WorldView)

Image: A collage of pictures from UN Peacekeeping. Upper picture shows Catherine Pollard, UN Under-Secretary-General for management Strategy, Policy and Compliance, moderates discussions in Berlin. Photo: UN DPO / Stephanie Lemesianou. Lower picture shows the high-level ministerial session.