UN peace missions strained, with trust ‘in short supply’ and widening divisions

By R Anil Kumar

New York. United Nations peace operations are facing mounting challenges as conflicts become more protracted, geopolitical divisions widen and transnational threats multiply, Secretary-General António Guterres warned on March 24.

Addressing a high-level open debate in the Security Council, he called for urgent reforms to make peacekeeping more adaptable to today’s increasingly complex security landscape.

“Wars are becoming more complex and more deadly. They last longer and are more enmeshed in global and regional dynamics. Negotiated settlements have been harder to achieve,” Mr. Guterres said.

He noted that many conflicts transcend national borders, with terrorism, organized crime and the weaponisation of new technologies posing additional threats. At the same time, multifaceted impacts of climate change are further complicating efforts to secure peace.

Adding to the mix, divisions within the Security Council itself have made it harder to find common ground on approaching and addressing conflicts.

“Trust is in short supply among – and within – countries and regions…this is a grim diagnosis, but we must face facts.”

Gap between mandates and resources

Mr. Guterres highlighted that one of the biggest hurdles facing UN peace operations is the growing gap between what missions are expected to achieve and the resources available to them.

“We see a persistent mismatch between mandates and available resources,” he said, adding that the Council must recognise the limitations of peacekeeping in situations “where there is little or no peace to keep”.

Despite these challenges, the UN chief emphasised that the Organization has the tools to adapt peace operations to better meet modern realities. He highlighted several recent efforts to make missions more effective and responsive.

Adapting peace operations

This includes a proposal for Haiti, where criminal gangs have overrun large parts of the country. The UN has a clear role to play in supporting stability and security, he said, while addressing the root causes of the crisis.

Similarly, in Lebanon, the UN Interim Force (UNIFIL) has developed an adaptation plan to strengthen its mandate and support compliance with Security Council resolution 1701.

Another key example is the recent Security Council resolution 2719, which enhanced the UN’s partnership with the African Union (AU), paving the way for stronger collaboration in peace enforcement missions.

“This breakthrough has lifted our partnership with the AU to a new level,” Mr. Guterres said, urging Member States to fully support the initiative.

Appeal for unity

Mr. Guterres noted that work is underway for a comprehensive review of UN peace operations as called for by Member States in the Pact for the Future, adopted in September last year.

The review will examine existing peacekeeping models, explore new approaches and ensure missions have realistic mandates with viable exit strategies and transition plans.

In closing, he urged all nations to overcome divides and provide the unified support necessary for peacekeeping missions to succeed.

“I call on this Security Council to continue working to overcome divisions and disagreements around peace operations and build the unified and consistent political support our peace operations – and the women and men who conduct them – need and deserve.”