UN Secretary-General Urges Nations to Fulfill Financial Obligations for Peacekeeping

Berlin: U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has urged member countries to fulfill their financial obligations towards the world body’s peacekeeping operations, emphasizing that the effectiveness of these missions relies heavily on the commitment of member states.

According to Ethiopian News Agency, the United Nations’ peacekeeping department is currently overseeing 11 operations in regions such as the Congo, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Lebanon, Cyprus, and Kosovo. The budget allocated for nine of these operations for the fiscal year ending June 30 is $5.6 billion, marking an 8.2% decrease from the previous year. U.N. member countries, totaling 193, are legally required to contribute their share to peacekeeping efforts.

Guterres highlighted the value of U.N. peacekeeping, stating that despite its budget being a small fraction of global military spending-approximately 0.5%-it remains a highly effective tool for building international peace and security. However, he stressed that the strengt
h of these operations is contingent upon the financial commitment of member states. Speaking at the commencement of a two-day conference in Germany focused on the future of peacekeeping, Guterres expressed concerns over the serious liquidity issues faced by peacekeeping operations and emphasized the necessity for all member states to fulfill their financial obligations in full and on time.

While Guterres refrained from detailing specific problems, he acknowledged the challenging financial climate affecting U.N. operations. The organization is also grappling with funding cuts from its largest donor, the United States, during the administration of President Donald Trump.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul echoed Guterres’ sentiments, stating that Germany and other nations are prepared to pledge additional resources for peacekeeping. He advocated for more efficient and focused missions by streamlining mandates, reducing bureaucracy, and avoiding redundancy.