Greatest Threat to UN Peacekeeping is Divisions Between Nations, Says UN Peace Operations Chief
New York, NY – 2025-02-26 (12:00 ET) – In a stark warning delivered today, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Isabelle Dubois, identified the growing divisions between member states as the single greatest threat to the effectiveness and future of UN peacekeeping missions. Speaking at a high-level briefing to the Security Council, Dubois emphasized that escalating geopolitical tensions and diverging national interests are undermining the consensus needed to launch, fund, and sustain these critical operations.
Dubois’s comments come at a time when the UN is grappling with a complex and evolving global security landscape, with peacekeeping mandates facing increasing challenges in conflict zones across Africa, the Middle East, and beyond. While acknowledging the tireless efforts and sacrifices of peacekeepers on the ground, she argued that their success hinges on the unified support and commitment of the international community.
“The blue helmets can only be effective if the nations that send them and fund their missions are united in their commitment to peace and security,” Dubois stated. “When disagreements and rivalries between member states spill over into the Security Council and other UN bodies, it paralyzes our ability to act decisively and effectively in conflict situations.”
Specifically, Dubois highlighted the following key concerns:
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Erosion of Consensus in the Security Council: Increasingly frequent vetoes and abstentions on resolutions relating to peacekeeping mandates are creating uncertainty and limiting the scope of operations. She cited recent disagreements over mandates in several conflict zones, particularly regarding the authorization to use force and the inclusion of specific political objectives, as evidence of this worrying trend.
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Difficulties in Securing Funding and Resources: Growing skepticism towards multilateralism and the rise of nationalistic sentiments in some countries are impacting the willingness of member states to contribute financially to UN peacekeeping operations. Dubois stressed that inadequate funding is forcing missions to operate with limited resources, jeopardizing the safety and effectiveness of peacekeepers and hindering their ability to implement their mandates.
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Politicization of Troop Contributions: The selection and deployment of peacekeeping troops are becoming increasingly politicized, with some countries prioritizing their own national interests and strategic objectives over the needs of the mission. This can lead to imbalances in the composition of peacekeeping forces, undermining their impartiality and effectiveness.
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Challenges in Addressing Root Causes of Conflict: Dubois argued that divisions between nations are also hindering efforts to address the underlying causes of conflict, such as poverty, inequality, and political marginalization. Without a unified and coordinated approach to conflict prevention and resolution, peacekeeping missions are often reduced to managing the symptoms of deeper problems.
Dubois called on member states to overcome their differences and recommit to the principles of multilateralism and collective security. She urged them to engage in constructive dialogue, seek common ground, and prioritize the needs of conflict-affected populations.
“Peacekeeping is not a panacea, but it remains a vital tool for preventing and resolving conflict,” Dubois said. “However, it can only be effective if we, the member states of the United Nations, work together in a spirit of unity and solidarity.”
Moving Forward:
Dubois announced that the UN Department of Peace Operations would be undertaking a series of initiatives to address the challenges she outlined. These include:
- Strengthening Dialogue and Diplomacy: Encouraging member states to engage in more frequent and open discussions on issues related to peacekeeping, both within and outside the formal UN system.
- Enhancing Transparency and Accountability: Improving the transparency and accountability of peacekeeping operations, to ensure that they are conducted in accordance with international law and human rights standards.
- Investing in Conflict Prevention: Strengthening the UN’s capacity to prevent conflicts from escalating, through early warning mechanisms, mediation efforts, and support for good governance.
- Promoting National Ownership: Working with host countries to build their capacity to manage their own security, with the goal of eventually transitioning peacekeeping operations to national authorities.
Dubois’s message was echoed by several Security Council members who expressed concern about the challenges facing UN peacekeeping. They reaffirmed their commitment to supporting these vital operations and called for greater cooperation and collaboration among member states.
However, some observers noted that overcoming the deep-seated divisions between nations will require a fundamental shift in global politics, which may prove difficult to achieve in the current climate. Whether the international community can rise to the challenge remains to be seen, but the future of UN peacekeeping – and the lives of millions of people affected by conflict – may depend on it.
Relevance of Information:
This article includes information on the current challenges facing UN Peacekeeping, reasons why they are happening, the concerns about these reasons and what the UN intends to do in order to move forward. It also includes the relevance of this information to the future of UN peacekeeping and the lives of millions of people affected by conflict.
Greatest threat to UN Peacekeeping is divisions between nations, says UN Peace Operations Chief
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