Why UN peacekeepers struggle in modern war

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, “Efficiency means making every dollar count. But it can never replace our shared duty to fund peacekeeping predictably and adequately.” Addressing the Security Council on the future of all forms of United Nations peace operations, Guterres said, “Most of our missions now operate where peace remains elusive. They are asked to contain the damage of wars that the parties feel little pressure to end – and that outside actors sometimes feed. The ground has shifted. Too often, our mandates have not. Peacekeepers are attacked. Civilians are targeted. International law is violated with a mounting sense of impunity.” He added, “Continuous improvement matters – and we are doing so, from Action for Peacekeeping to the UN80 Initiative. But that can only take us so far. The success of every mission requires your unity and a recognition of the evolving context in which we operate.” He stressed, “Agility is not in the Secretariat’s hands alone. Missions cannot move at the speed of events when they are bound by rigid budgetary rules and administrative processes. Efficiency means making every dollar count. But it can never replace our shared duty to fund peacekeeping predictably and adequately.” He concluded, “In the shadow of war, people still look to the blue helmets – and trust them. Let us be worthy of that trust – every day. Let us invest in peace.”


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