New York: Revitalizing United Nations peace operations necessitates bold diplomacy, sustained political support, and renewed trust in the organization’s ability to foster peace in an increasingly fragmented world. This was the consensus among several high-level UN officials during a Security Council meeting, where member states echoed calls for adaptable, inclusive, and politically grounded missions.
According to EMM, speakers at the meeting emphasized the importance of the Pact for the Future, the outcome document of the 2024 Summit of the Future. This document highlights the urgent need for peace operations to adapt to an increasingly complex security environment. It calls for a review of all forms of UN peace operations and encourages the Secretary-General to convene regular high-level meetings with relevant regional organizations to discuss peace operations, peacebuilding, and conflicts.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, addressed the 15-member Council, highlighting four key areas to strengthen peace operations. He stressed that the Council must not only mandate missions but ensure their strategies receive strong, ongoing political backing. Lacroix also called for UN leadership to act as ambassadors for peace, adapting to political shifts, and emphasized the importance of close coordination with regional actors, especially the African Union, referencing Resolution 2719 (2023) as a milestone for AU-UN cooperation.
Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, urged the Council to reflect on how peacekeeping and special political missions can evolve to meet new challenges. She warned of a fragmented geopolitical landscape complicated by non-State actors, new technologies, and transnational threats like climate change.
Zeid Raad al Hussein, President and Chief Executive Officer of the International Peace Institute, highlighted the importance of creative diplomacy and bold leadership to restore trust in the United Nations. He recounted historical instances where UN leadership acted decisively in crisis situations, suggesting that such initiative and political courage are necessary to rebuild trust and make peace operations effective again.
During the discussion, Council members emphasized the need to adapt UN missions to modern challenges and ensure they are properly resourced, strategically designed, and technologically equipped. Ioannis-Michail Loverdos, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece, and the speaker for the Republic of Korea, advocated for the practical application of new technologies, such as AI, to enhance peace operations.
Representatives from various countries, including Denmark, France, the United States, and the United Kingdom, stressed the importance of realistic political objectives, strong partnerships with regional organizations, and enhanced coordination with local actors. They also underscored the need for inclusion, particularly involving women and youth in decision-making processes to sustain peacebuilding gains.
Panama’s representative highlighted the significance of including women and youth in decision-making processes across all peacebuilding levels, while Somalia’s delegate emphasized leaving a legacy of resilience and development when UN missions depart.
China’s representative pointed out the active engagement of peacekeepers from 116 countries in 20 missions, calling for continued political, financial, and technical support from the international community. Algeria’s delegate stressed that cost-effectiveness should not mean doing less but doing better with available resources.
Guyana’s representative highlighted the need to integrate missions into broader strategies addressing root causes like poverty and inequality, while Sierra Leone’s speaker emphasized that peacekeepers create space for dialogue but cannot substitute genuine political solutions.
Finally, the representative of Pakistan, Council President for July, noted that peace operations constitute less than 0.3 percent of global military spending and have been successful in reducing violence, protecting civilians, and sustaining peace arrangements. He stressed that reform efforts must preserve the credibility and readiness of peace operations, acknowledging that while peacekeeping is not a silver bullet, it remains a crucial tool in the global peacebuilding arsenal.