UN peacekeepers save lives but need stronger political support and resources, top official urges

In his address to the Security Council, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, told the ambassadors that UN operations “can only be as strong” as the collective support of countries.

“As geopolitical tensions have increased, including here in this Council, and amid changing global and regional dynamics, Peace operations can increasingly rely less on member states acting in a strong, united manner to support peace operations. They have the mission to support.”

Today, peacekeepers face challenges ranging from transnational organised crime, illicit exploitation of raw materials, the impacts of climate change, the spread of cheap weapons technology and targeted disinformation campaigns.

“Despite all these challenges, today more than 70,000 peacekeepers courageously continue their important work“Every day they make a difference by protecting civilians, clearing mines and explosive remnants of war, monitoring fragile ceasefires and preventing escalation of hostilities,” said Mr Lacroix.

Making the difference

He then emphasised the tangible impact of peacekeeping missions in different regions.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ituri province, UN peacekeepers are “the only ones protecting” more than 100,000 displaced civilians in the Drodro camp.

In southern Lebanon, UN Interim Force (UNIFIL) personnel face threats of cross-border violence on a daily basis. Yet they serve as a crucial channel of communication to prevent further escalation.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) aims to achieve political solutions by engaging local and national stakeholders to build trust for long-term peace.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Interim Security Force (UNISFA) in Abyei is brokering peace agreements between herders and farmers fighting over scarce natural resources. Working with local and international partners, conflicts during livestock migrations are being prevented.

Limits of peacekeeping

While UN peacekeepers play a crucial role in maintaining stability, their efforts alone are not sufficient without broader political support.

“Peacekeeping can only do so much on its ownstressed Mr Lacroix, who urged the Security Council and Member States to provide joint support to missions and encourage political solutions to conflicts.

Blue helmets can provide powerful protection to civilians, but they do not wage war.

Peacekeeping, he said, should be seen as “the collective determination of the Security Council to address conflict effectively,” with mandates that are clear, adaptable and well-resourced.

He also called for stronger partnerships at local, regional and global levels, stressing the importance of ‘networked multilateralism’ to address today’s interconnected challenges.

Despite recent improvements in the safety of peacekeepers, Mr Lacroix warned of the growing threat of hostile actions, including drone attacks, and stressed the need for better systems against unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

He also stressed that peacekeeping has its limitations: “Blue helmets can provide powerful protection to civilians, but they do not wage war.“

UN peacekeepers patrol rural South Sudan.

A crucial moment

Looking ahead, Mr Lacroix pointed to the upcoming Summit of the Future as an important opportunity for world leaders to strengthen multilateralism.

The summit, which begins on 22 September, will allow member states to reassess and reaffirm the core principles that have underpinned UN peacekeeping for nearly eight decades. It is expected to adopt an ambitious “Pact for the Future” that will provide a clear mandate to ensure that peacekeeping remains adaptable and effective in addressing today’s complex challenges.

“Peacekeeping has proven to be an important tool of this Council, and it must continue to adapt to meet future challenges,” he said.

“Every day, UN peacekeepers save countless lives for a relatively small investment. But their missions need the attention, political support and resources they deserve. There are few better tools to ensure peace in a vulnerable time.“