UNSC meeting: Strengthening UN peacekeeping

UN Security Council Debate on Strengthening Peacekeeping Operations

The UN Security Council convened a session to discuss the future of peacekeeping operations, addressing key challenges and proposing reforms to enhance their effectiveness in maintaining global peace and security. The debate brought together representatives from member states, regional organizations, and experts in the field, highlighting the critical importance of adapting peacekeeping efforts to meet evolving global threats.

Current Challenges and the Need for Reform

Speakers unanimously acknowledged that UN peacekeeping faces significant challenges in today’s complex geopolitical landscape. Brazil emphasized that peacekeeping operations are in crisis, struggling to adapt to the changing nature of conflicts involving non-state actors, transnational crime, and technological disruptions. The United States highlighted the strain on peacekeeping due to fracturing political support and unnecessary divisions within the Security Council.

Several nations, including Nepal and Bangladesh, pointed out that conflicts are increasingly protracted, politically fragmented, and exacerbated by geopolitical tensions. The involvement of non-state actors, proliferation of weapons, and potential malicious use of AI were identified as major obstacles by Mexico. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, representing the UN Secretariat, stressed that peacekeepers are increasingly unable to rely on unified support from Member States due to geopolitical tensions.

Adapting Peacekeeping to Modern Challenges

To address these challenges, many speakers advocated for adapting peacekeeping operations to meet unique contextual needs. The United Kingdom called for more nimble and flexible missions with focused and realistic mandates. Austria suggested a menu of peacekeeping options, ranging from traditional large-scale operations to precisely targeted support missions.

Several countries, including Croatia and Thailand, emphasized the need to incorporate advanced technologies and enhance intelligence capabilities in peacekeeping efforts. The Philippines stressed the importance of providing peacekeepers with modern equipment and training to address emerging threats such as cyber attacks and disinformation campaigns.

Strengthening Partnerships and Regional Approaches

A recurring theme throughout the debate was the importance of strengthening partnerships between the UN and regional organizations. The European Union highlighted its Strategic Partnership with the UN on peace operations and crisis management. Many African nations, including Rwanda and Nigeria, called for enhanced collaboration with the African Union, citing Resolution 2719 as a positive step towards sustainable financing for AU-led peace support operations.

The United States and United Kingdom also expressed support for exploring new models of peacekeeping, including more targeted mandates or leadership by regional organizations. This approach was seen as crucial for addressing the increasingly regionalized nature of conflicts and leveraging local expertise.

Enhancing Mandate Clarity and Resource Allocation

Numerous speakers, including Jordan and Guatemala, stressed the need for clear, achievable mandates with adequate resources. France emphasized that the success of peacekeeping depends primarily on the capacity to find political solutions, calling for unity within the Security Council around clear political objectives.

Kazakhstan and other nations advocated for predictable long-term funding, state-of-the-art equipment, and highly trained personnel. The importance of aligning mandates with host country priorities and ensuring sufficient staff and resources for effective development was highlighted by several speakers.

Prioritizing Civilian Protection and Local Engagement

Many representatives, including those from Chile and Ireland, emphasized the importance of prioritizing civilian protection in peacekeeping operations. Poland stressed that protection of civilians should remain at the core of mission principles, while Australia noted the compelling evidence that UN peacekeeping operations are effective in reducing violence against civilians.

Speakers widely agreed on the need for greater engagement with local communities and civil society. Morocco and others advocated for a people-centered approach, emphasizing the importance of understanding local conflict dynamics and tailoring mandates to specific situations.

Advancing Women’s Participation and the WPS Agenda

The implementation of the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda was a key focus for many speakers. Countries such as Canada, Indonesia, and Mongolia highlighted the unique contributions of women peacekeepers in building trust with local communities and improving operational effectiveness. The United Kingdom noted its support for various initiatives to create an enabling environment for women in peacekeeping.

Jean-Pierre Lacroix reported progress in meeting gender parity targets, with 46% of heads and deputy heads of mission positions in multidimensional missions held by women. Many countries, including Rwanda and Bangladesh, called for further efforts to increase women’s participation at all levels of peacekeeping operations.

Focus on Prevention and Peacebuilding

Several speakers, including Sierra Leone and Ecuador, stressed the importance of shifting focus towards conflict prevention and peacebuilding. The Netherlands advocated for calibrating mandates to contribute effectively to transitioning from peacekeeping to peacebuilding and conflict prevention.

The role of the Peacebuilding Commission was highlighted by multiple speakers, with Italy calling for enhanced interaction between the Security Council and the Commission. This integrated approach was seen as crucial for addressing root causes of conflicts and fostering sustainable peace.

Looking Ahead: The Summit of the Future and Peacekeeping Ministerial

Many speakers looked forward to upcoming events as opportunities to shape the future of UN peacekeeping. The Summit of the Future was widely viewed as a chance to reaffirm commitment to multilateral solutions and strengthen the UN’s peacekeeping architecture. Germany announced its role as host for the next UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin in 2025, aiming to continue discussions on peacekeeping’s future and generate substantial pledges to address existing gaps.

Throughout the debate, speakers reaffirmed the critical role of UN peacekeeping in maintaining international peace and security. While acknowledging the significant challenges faced by peacekeeping operations, the overall tone was one of commitment to reform and adaptation to ensure that peacekeeping remains an effective tool in addressing global security threats.

Slovenia-President:
The provisional agenda for this meeting is United Nations Peacekeeping Operations, Strengthening U.S. Peacekeeping Reflections for the Future. The agenda is adopted. In accordance with Rule 37 of the Council’s Provisional Rules of Procedure, I invite the representatives of Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Serbia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, and Vietnam to participate in this meeting. It is so decided. In accordance with Rule 39 of the Council’s Provisional Rules of Procedure, I invite the following briefers to participate in this meeting. Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations. Ms. Comfort Ero, President and Chief Executive Officer of the International Crisis Group. And Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, President and Chief Executive Officer of the International Peace Institute. It is so decided. In accordance with Rule 39 of the Council’s Provisional Rules of Procedure, I also invite His Excellency Mr. Stavros Lambrinidis, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations, to participate in this meeting. It is so decided. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of item 2 of the agenda. I wish to draw the attention of the Council members to document S-2024-638, a letter dated 27 August 2024 from the representative of Slovenia to the Security Council, addressed to the Secretary General, transmitting a concept paper on the item under consideration. I give the floor to Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix. Thank you, Mr. President.

Jean-Pierre Lacroix:
Excellencies, members of the Council, I welcome this opportunity to once again brief the Security Council. Today’s open debate is timely as we prepare for the Summit of the Future and ahead of the Peacekeeping Ministerial Conference next May. And I am very pleased to acknowledge the presence of my excellent co-briefers today, Dr. Comfort Arrow and Ziad Rael al-Hussein. And I am encouraged by the large number of Member States inscribed as speakers, symbolizing your strong support for peacekeeping. Now in its 77th year, UN peacekeeping remains a cornerstone of multilateralism in action. However, peacekeeping faces formidable challenges, as does the multilateral system writ large. The UN peacekeeping operations can only ever be as strong as the collective support of the UN membership. As geopolitical tensions have mounted, including here in this Council, and amid shifting global and regional dynamics, peacekeeping operations are increasingly unable to rely on Member States to act in a strong, unified manner to support peacekeeping efforts or the political processes they are mandated to support. In parallel, conflict is evolving. Peacekeeping missions are increasingly confronting drivers of conflict that have no borders, such as transnational organized crime, the illegal exploitation of natural resources, and the impact of climate change. Non-state actors engaged in these illicit activities are also weaponizing cheap technologies, such as improvised explosive devices and drones, and are propagating disinformation and hate speech. In such circumstances, at least one of the parties to the conflict often lack any political ambition beyond fueling disorder, making them reluctant parties to peace. Despite all these challenges, today, over 70,000 peacekeepers bravely continue their vital work. Each day, they make a difference in protecting civilians, clearing mines and explosive remnants of war, monitoring fragile ceasefires, and preventing escalation of hostilities. I recently witnessed this firsthand at the Drodro Camp for Displaced Persons in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Ituri province. There, UN peacekeepers are alone in protecting over 100,000 civilians displaced as a result of ongoing fighting. In southern Lebanon, UNIFIL’s personnel serve under the daily threat posed by the continued exchanges of fire across the Blue Line. As the only channel of communication between the two sides, the mission plays a critical role avoiding miscalculation and misunderstanding, to the extent possible, of course, between these two sides. I sincerely thank this Council for its confidence in UNIFIL by unanimously extending its mandate last month. Excellencies allow me to share five messages on the key prerequisites for effective peacekeeping. First, the ultimate objective of all peacekeeping operations is political. All UN peacekeeping operations are designed to support peace agreements between parties to a conflict. In South Sudan, for example, UNLIS is engaging key stakeholders at both national and local levels to advance inclusive, consensual political solutions. At the very least, peacekeeping aims to build confidence and create conditions for a durable political process to take hold. While little progress has been achieved on the political process in Cyprus since 2017, the peacekeeping force UNFICYP continues its efforts to maintain calm, playing a preventive role in promoting an environment conducive for negotiations and an eventual settlement. Yet, there is only so much that peacekeeping can do on its own. For peacekeepers to be effective, the Council and the wider membership must muster strong, consistent, and unified support for peacekeeping missions, and particularly to encourage the parties of a conflict to reach and implement political solutions to the conflict. A peacekeeping operation is and should always be one of the most concrete expressions of the collective resolve of the Security Council to effectively address conflict. I encourage the Council to fully leverage all tools at its disposal to support peacekeeping. peacekeeping mandates. I acknowledge and I’m grateful for the often significant efforts by Council members to forge unity behind peacekeeping mandates while bridging differences and considering various viewpoints including those of the host state and regional actors. Importantly, the bilateral engagement of all United Nations member states with conflict parties must be consistent with the decisions taken by this Council. All member states should exert their diplomatic influence to back the political processes that peacekeeping operations are deployed to support and to encourage adversaries to commit to a peace agreement and its implementation. Such diplomatic support can make all the difference in crucial moments. We need broad coalition of member states to undergird the political efforts of peacekeepers. This was a central feature of all successful examples of peacekeeping operation such as in Timor-Leste, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire and Sierra Leone, just to name a few. Second, the optimal performance of peacekeeping operations depends on mandates that provide clear strategic direction. They must be prioritized, achievable, adaptable to changing circumstances and sufficiently resources. This is a critical factor for any mission to be fit for purpose. I recognize progress made by the Council in this regard despite serious challenges. The Secretariat will continue to do its part including by providing regular clear and frank assessments as well as realistic recommendations and scenarios to support the Council’s decision-making. We also welcome your views on what the Secretariat should do to improve. Mandates must also have the resources to match the Council’s ambitions. Adopting long detailed mandates without the requisite resources raises unrealistic expectations which has the potential to fuel frustration amongst host states and their populations and provides fertile ground for misinformation. Third, today’s complex challenges can only be addressed through network multilateralism and strong partnerships locally, regionally and globally. Organized crime, non-state armed groups with extremist ideologies or the effects of climate change, many of today’s conflict drivers do not respect national borders. Peacekeeping must adopt a much more integrated operational model with the wider UN system and regional and international partners. In Abyei, for example, UNESCO is successfully striking local peace agreements among herders and farmers who compete over increasingly scarce natural resources such as land and water. It has done so by working alongside UN and non-UN partners on the ground to facilitate a series of conferences ahead of cattle migration season with the aim of preventing conflict and ensuring a peaceful resolution to the disputes that frequently arise in this season. Member states should provide the mandate, resources, and administrative flexibility that allow us to engage in such critical partnerships. Fourth, peacekeeping operations themselves must continually seek improvement. We need to continue to invest in strengthening the peacekeeping tool to make it more effective and adaptable to today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. We are currently looking at ways to update and adapt Action for Peacekeeping Plus by seeking to address systemic challenges that we have not yet sufficiently tackled. This may include areas such as community engagement and the better use of digital technologies. As I have previously conveyed to this Council, I remain committed to regularly update you on the challenges we face and the progress we achieve. The latest Action for Peacekeeping Plus progress report, which was circulated to all C34 member states last week, documents improvements and also challenges in key areas. Allow me to highlight a few. The safety, security, and well-being of peacekeepers remains an overriding concern. Over the past few years, the number of peacekeepers fatalities due to malicious acts has decreased from 33 in 2022, of which 15 were from MINUSMA, to seven in 2023, to four thus far in 2024. Of course, there are four too many. The closure of MINUSMA contributed to the decrease, but more important has been the considerable action taken by all peacekeeping missions and its headquarters to enhance peacekeeper security. Worryingly, however, the total number of hostile acts has increased across missions. The emerging threat of unmanned aerial vehicles is of rising concern. Peacekeeping operations are not immune to this threat, and 2024 marked the first recorded attack by an improvised armed UAS on a UN mission. The Department of Peace Operations is working closely with the Department of Operational Support to equip more peacekeepers with counter-UAS systems and training, but much more work is needed in cooperation with member states. We are also continuing to implement the Comprehensive Action Plan on Peacekeeper Security. Progress has been made in ensuring speedy and effective evacuation of injured peacekeepers. Both MINUSMA and UNICEF established casualty evacuation coordination cells, revised guidance, and continued training and stress tests. Violent crimes against peacekeepers are appalling and unacceptable. We will soon launch a database for member states mandated under Security Council Resolution 2589, and of course we will continue to relentlessly pursue accountability for these crimes. The Department of Operational Support has developed a mental health strategy for United Nations uniformed personnel, and will soon launch the UN’s Mind Companion digital platform in 16 languages. But we must all remember that too many peacekeepers succumb to illness, which remains the predominant cause of peacekeepers’ fatalities. And of course, we all pay tribute to all fallen peacekeepers. Further progress on the safety and security of peacekeepers depends on sustained member states’ support, including through provision of specialized skills, equipment, and expertise. Effective mandate delivery demands peacekeeping must have the right capabilities and mindsets. Member states and the Secretariat are working collaboratively to maintain readiness of military and police units for deployment to field missions. The peacekeeping ministerial process has been instrumental in addressing capacity gaps. The last ministerial meeting in Accra in December 2023 resulted in 16 member states announcing new pledges, for which we are grateful. The next ministerial meeting in Berlin in May 2025 will be a key opportunity to look at the future of peacekeeping operations and to pledge critical capabilities for both current and possible future operations mission models. Important conceptual work for this event is already underway. I wish to thank Germany for hosting this conference. Of course, I’m also very grateful to Ghana for having hosted the previous and very successful conference. Excellency, the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda is a political and strategic imperative in all our efforts. Global trends concerning women’s rights are deeply worrying, but the advocacy and engagement of our peacekeeping operations has made a difference. In the Central African Republic, for example, the mission is supporting the government’s voter registration process, including through support to women’s organizations, civic education, provision of birth certificates, and protection measures to enable women’s full, equal, and meaningful participation in the upcoming local elections. Looking at our own ranks, we have met or surpassed all targets within the uniform gender parity strategy, with a notable exception being for military contingents. And all military missions are led by men. In all but a few instances, member states have only nominated men for these positions. Of course, we call member states, we strongly urge member states to provide greater access for women to military leadership position at home and to nominate them for service in our peacekeeping operations. On the civilian side, we’ve been more successful with women making up 46% of our heads of mission and deputy head of mission positions in the multidimensional missions. Strategic and operational integration within missions and with our partners is pivotal for greater effectiveness. We continue to strengthen integrated analysis and planning. In the Central African Republic, for example, MINUSMA developed a political strategy providing a five-year strategic vision and a mission plan. And eight of our missions have SISG-approved mission plans. To ensure this number increases, the Department of Peace Operation is developing a package of guidance and support for missions to ensure that all have mission plans informed by a political strategy. Effective integration is equally critical during phases of transition. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the joint disengagement plan signed by the government and MONUSCO in November 2023 is a key reference for the mission’s gradual, responsible, and sustainable withdrawal. MONUSCO is guided by a body of lessons learned from its own transition experience so far and those from other peacekeeping transitions. And we are also in the process of documenting important lessons from the experience of MINUSMA. Going forward, we must further integrate the multilateral system to more ably address the drives of conflict that span over regions and continents. I would also like to emphasize that in all peacekeeping mission contexts, the United Nations remain fully committed to preventing sexual exploitation and abuse and achieve accountability. We continue to strengthen our efforts to ensure accountability, including where needed the repatriation of personnel involved in misconduct. We continue to prioritize maintaining the highest standards of conduct for all peacekeeping personnel and protecting victim rights. Mr. President, my fifth and final message is that even with all the political commitment and necessary investment, peacekeeping obviously has its limits. Blue helmets can act robustly to protect civilians, but they do not fight wars. Where there is no ceasefire or political agreement whatsoever, enforcement action carried out by partners may be required. The unanimous adoption of Security Council Resolution 2719 marked a major milestone by enabling African Union-led peace support operations to access United Nations-assessed contributions on a case-by-case basis. Significant progress has already been achieved in the operationalization of the resolution, including the finalization of a joint roadmap, the AUUN roadmap, for implementation focused on four thematic work streams. We are working very well with our African Union Commission counterparts to elevate our joint operational readiness for the time when we may be called to deploy. and support AU peace operations supported by UN asset contributions. So Mr. President and distinguished members of the Council, we are at a pivotal moment. In two weeks’ time, the Summit of the Future will present world leaders with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bolster and restore trust in the multilateral system when the verdict remains out on whether Member States remain fully committed to multilateral solutions to crisis. The Summit will be a moment to reappraise and reaffirm the inherent strengths that have made peacekeeping successful over nearly eight decades. I am hopeful that world leaders will adopt an ambitious pact for the future that gives a clear and strong mandate to continue our efforts to make peacekeeping fit for the challenges of today and tomorrow. Peacekeeping has proven itself as a key tool of this Council and must continue to adapt to meet future challenges. In the run-up to the next peacekeeping ministerial meeting, we will continue to explore the reforms and possible models that may enable UN peacekeeping and peace operations more generally to address the evolving nature of conflict. The onus is on all of us to ensure that we are ready. Every day, UN peacekeepers are bravely saving countless lives for a relatively small investment, but their missions need the attention, political backing, and resources they deserve. There are few better tools for securing peace in a fragile age. Thank you.

President:
I thank Mr. LaCroix for his briefing. I give the floor to Ms. Comfort Ero. Ms. Arrow, you have the floor.

Comfort Ero:
Thank you very much. Thank you very much, Mr. President, for inviting me to address the Council today. As most of you know, the International Crisis Group is a global conflict prevention organisation, and we have analysts covering almost all the countries where the United Nations has peace operations. My colleagues work closely with UN officials, and I’m very glad to be able to give my presentation alongside the Under-Secretary-General. We also talk with governments and citizens of these countries, and where possible, with non-state armed groups. I want to attach myself to the five messages that the Under-Secretary-General just gave in his presentation, and I want to share three additional messages with the Council based on my colleagues’ research in places where the UN has peacekeeping operations. My very first message is a simple one for Council members. United Nations peacekeeping operations are still valuable and retain significant strengths. There has been much talk about the decline of peacekeeping. We’ve written about that ourselves. Some analysts suggest that regional organisations or ad hoc missions will replace UN forces. It is true that UN peacekeeping operations have shrunk overall in the last decade, and Crisis Group supports initiatives such as the Security Council Resolution 2719 that the Under-Secretary-General just mentioned on Africa Union-led peace operations that can enable other organisations to take the lead in addressing some crisis. But as the process of deploying the multilateral security support mission in Haiti has just demonstrated, standing up ad hoc missions can be a complex and time-consuming process. By contrast, the UN has developed developed a unique set of mechanisms to manage force generation, deployment, and sustainment since the end of the Cold War. There is always room for improvement, and I think the Under-Secretary-General was outlining that in his own presentation, there is room for improvement to the United Nations system. I am glad that the draft Pact for the Future calls for the Secretary-General to review all forms of UN peace operations, the Council and the wider UN must value and reinforce UN operations and not write them off. I think my second message, therefore, to the Council is that we must remember that many civilians judge peace operations by the physical security that they can offer or fail to provide if we are seen in some instances. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, we have seen public discontent with UN peacekeepers’ failures to halt violence against civilians and seen that explode into angry and even deadly anti-UN protests. In the Central African Republic, too, analysts report that the population is skeptical of the UN’s ability to stop violence. But when violence does erupt, civilians flee towards the UN bases in the hope of safety. When the UN provides convoy security, it does it in the Central African Republic capital, Bangui, and people travel there safely. In some cases, civilians do not grasp the mandate and limits of peacekeepers and the limits that peacekeepers face themselves. The UN still needs to do more to understand how communities perceive the United Nations and, in turn, how the United Nations can work to meet these communities’ expectations. But it’s also a reminder of an old truth. When this Council mandates United Nations forces to protect civilians, it must ensure that they have the means and the political backing to fulfill that goal. Exactly as the Under-Secretary-General was saying in his remarks. If you do not do so, you undermine the UN’s credibility and its chance of success. And so my third and final message to the Council is that in many of the countries that we cover at Crisis Group, the United Nations peacekeeping operations no longer plays a major political role, even where the organization has thousands of personnel on the ground. In the immediate post-Cold War period, the UN mediated the end of wars from Central America to Southeast Asia. The Blue Helmets helped the resulting agreement stick. Today, however, the United Nations frequently defers to other actors, whether individual states or regional organizations, to lead on peacemaking and mediation. In many cases, this is absolutely the right strategy to take. And Crisis Group also works with a range of actors to address conflict, assessing who to work with on a case-by-case basis. In some cases, as in South Sudan, the United Nations has succeeded in supporting community-level peace initiatives, even when its national-level leverage has shrunk. But elsewhere, as in the case of Western Sahara, for example, the United Nations keeps peacekeepers in places where the political strategies that were once meant to serve has long evaporated. So the Council has the capacity and a responsibility to address this political gap. Where Council members give good support to a United Nations representative, for example, as you have done with Ambassador Lamamra over Sudan, it can give them the extra traction that they need to succeed in their job. However, Member States, including those on this Council, follow policies that undermine or marginalize the UN politically. It means that they cannot do their job properly. The Council should not set up representatives of the United Nations for failure. The United Nations peacekeeping operations, which have taken on many forms and responsibilities since the very first peacekeeping mission in 1946, are among the most adaptive parts of the United Nations peace and security toolbox. So, in conclusion, Mr. President and Council Excellencies, despite the diplomatic differences and difficulties that you face, it is incumbent on you to give the United Nations peacekeeping operations the political support that they need to end wars and protect the vulnerable. I thank you, Mr. President.

President:
I thank Ms. Ero for her briefing. I give the floor to Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein.

Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein:
Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you for inviting the International Peace Institute to participate in this discussion. I am delighted to be joining my friends Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix and Comfort Arrow from the International Crisis Group. And it is a pleasure to see you preside over the Council during this key month, recalling with admiration Slovenia’s skillful performance the last time you served here in the 1990s, along with President Danilo Turk and Ambassador Sanja Stiglitz. At that time, I had recently arrived in New York after serving as a UN peacekeeper in the former Yugoslavia. Thirty years ago, in Croatia… the UN had 15 battalions, or formed units, drawn from 11 countries, representing almost all the corners of the world. Canada from North America, Argentina from South America, Kenya from Africa, Jordan, Nepal, and Indonesia from Asia, Ukraine, the Russian Federation, and Poland from Eastern Europe, Belgium and Denmark from Western Europe. There was even a US battalion further south in what was later known as a preventive deployment mission in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, now the Republic of North Macedonia. And what a time it was then, to have American and Russian formed units working in the same overall theater under a French-led UN military command, and all answering to a Japanese SRSG, Yasushi Akashi. There were military observers, civilian police, and civil affairs officers from everywhere. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, there was an equally impressive breadth of representation when it came to formed units. France, the UK, Turkey, Egypt, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Sweden, the Netherlands, the Nordic countries, and others. This is not to say all of it was an assurance of triumph. Of course not, far from it. While the UN did achieve some tactical successes in the former Yugoslavia, and there was much bravery, regrettably, as in Rwanda in 1994, there was cowardice, too, colossal errors of judgment, and eye-watering cruelty many of which we could not stop, or did not stop. But we were there, almost all of us. Together, experiencing the pain together and hopefully learning from it together. Beyond the former Yugoslavia, there were smaller military observer missions, election support missions, later executive-style missions reminiscent of the first Congo operation, a complete kaleidoscope of UN peace instruments. I do not need to describe the current situation. The decline in the willingness of states to host missions they consider to be past their sell-by date and the reluctance of others to provide a critical mass of political support to end what are now seemingly interminable conflicts is plain to see, as explained in these briefings by my two distinguished colleagues. At the heart of it, however, lies the UN’s flagging belief in itself, in its ability to be a peace organization in the hardest of circumstances, and this is perhaps the clearest sign of the UN’s low bow before defeatism. This is as obvious as it is painful, and the willingness of many in the UN to subcontract in their minds the difficult responsibilities of enforcement action to the AU also speaks to it. The AU should be viewed as a strategic partner of the UN and nothing else. Sadly, the UN today in peace and security terms appears then to be a stump of what it once was, and not because the need for the UN’s peace function has somehow dissolved either. Unfortunately, some of the signs have been there for many years. When I joined this Council ten years ago, out of some 80, odd agenda items at the time, the focus was almost entirely on Africa. It was as if the UN Security Council was another AU peace and security council, but in New York. It gave the impression the African states had a monopoly over threats to international peace and security. Were there no conflicts elsewhere in the world beyond Haiti or Afghanistan, in South America or in Asia, for example, that also merited being on the council’s agenda? How did it become like this, so lopsided and now so difficult to navigate? While there are many causes that can be worked into an explanation with some routes clearly geopolitical and others deriving from the challenges of counterterrorism, I will focus just on one. When Colin Powell, while serving as the U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the early 1990s, made clear his belief that his country should never place its military personnel in harm’s way where there is no direct national interest, he inadvertently set in motion a chain reaction. From the very beginning of the UN, the Irish, the Fijians, the Nepalese, and many others had done just that, sent peacekeepers into theaters where there was no possible motive for being there other than in the service of the collective will, as the Kenyans are now trying to do in Haiti. And yet, almost overnight, the Powell doctrine became contagious, spreading through capitals and particularly parliaments, with many asking aloud why they were committing their people to dangerous UN missions. I remember the military head of my country’s armed forces. forces shouting and asking that very question over the phone early one morning in 2000. This inflammation contributed in part to my country, Jordan’s decision, along with India, to withdraw its battalions from UNAMSL, the UN mission in Sierra Leone, something then unheard of. The proximate trigger was the mandate being changed by the permanent members with neither Kamlesh Sharma, the Indian PR, or myself knowing anything about it as we had not been consulted. Around that time, I told the council that while we wanted to serve the UN, we were not comfortable being viewed as a sort of underclass of the UN. In a UN divided between masters and servants, a UN stratified between bankers and soldiers, where we would be the only ones relied on to do the riskiest jobs, and especially not when only two out of the 15 council members at the time were contributing sizable numbers to UN peace operations. President Barack Obama’s trying in 2015 to rally the international community to dig deep and renew its commitment to UN peacekeeping, especially in the most difficult circumstances, seemed to work for a while, but it came too late to reverse the decline. The rot was simply too well established. Mr. President, we have two simple points on what could be done. It has always been the case with the UN. If you choose the right people and insert them into even the tightest of spots, often and against all odds, small miracles happen, and they happen fast. As Comfort Eros said, the council should worry less about the precise structure of future mandates and concentrate more on making sure the right people are chosen in keeping with Article 101, Paragraph 3 of the Charter, and then let them work unfettered by burdensome instructions finding their way into mandates. The Council simply needs to give them the support they require. Second, with the Council so divided, our recommendation is that it go back to basics. When there is an emerging or actual threat to international peace and security, the Council should mandate with absolutely no predetermination the Secretary General to go in person to the heart of the hotspot and weigh the situation before reporting to the Council with a battery of suggestions. That is all the Council needs to do, no more than that as the first step. When the Secretary General reports back, the Council can begin to tailor a logical response. In other words, you must allow the wound to determine the type of surgery required as best understood by your most senior surgeon. The Secretary General is the person who leads the organization. It is the Secretary General who has the most complete grasp of the entire UN system. It is the Secretary General who also has the clearest vision of the strategic chessboard. My last and associated point is this. The Security Council, and particularly its permanent members, selects the Secretary General while the General Assembly appoints them. The Council is therefore duty-bound to trust the Secretary General and in the latter’s impartial and good judgment when speaking of matters relating to peace and security. If you believe the Secretary General is capable of it, then respect his abilities accordingly, mandate and send him, listen to him, and then respond to the crisis accordingly. I thank you, Mr. President.

President:
I thank Mr. Al Hussein for his briefing. I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Slovenia. I thank the Undersecretary General, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Dr. Comfort Ero, and Dr. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein for their insightful briefings, which I believe are really enriching our discussions today. You gave us a lot of food for thought, and you gave us a push to act, so thank you very much. Colleagues, UN peace operations continue to represent one of the most effective tools at the disposal of the Security Council to maintain peace and security. At the same time, they reflect multilateralism at its finest, with member states collectively and in solidarity addressing challenges to peace and security of a fellow member state. It is therefore not surprise that peacekeeping operations, blue helmets, are recognized by global public as one of the most visible symbols of the United Nations. And yet, it has been 10 years since the last new UN peace operation was mandated, while several went through drawdowns and withdrawals due to lack of host country and popular support. The unity of the Security Council, a sine qua non for the success of any mission, has also been increasingly lacking. And all this in spite of world becoming less peaceful, and in spite of the likelihood of another major conflict being highest in recent times, according to the Global Peace Index 2024. Peace operations have in recent years suffered from the crisis of confidence. They struggle due to mismatch between their mandates and expectations of the governments and populations. And they haven’t been able to adjust to changing security environment and challenges. With highest number of ongoing conflicts and civilian casualties, new threats and challenges, including increasing pressure on states and communities by climate change and water insecurity, we now, more than ever, need UN peacekeeping that is fit for purpose, and with strong united political support of the Council. We need operations with defined strategic objectives instead of mandatory tasks. We need to devise operations whose mandates will. will match expectations of the host government and civilian population. While the Council needs to engage with host country and listen to their views, it should also expect from the host country to show responsibility in improving governance and in protecting civilian population. We need operations that follow core principles of the UN peacekeeping, consent, impartiality, and non-use of force. And we need to strictly follow primacy of politics principle. In looking for fresh ideas, we should build on UN experience, lessons learned, and good practices. And we heard today a lot of ideas as well. And we also should build stronger partnership with regional, national, and local partners. Regional organizations have a unique understanding of local dynamics due to closer partnerships with host states and other regional actors. They can play a vital role in creating a safe environment for effective engagement of peacekeeping operations. The Council needs to build on good examples of partnerships such as Resolution 2719 on the financing of AU-led peace of support operations, authorization of UNESCO support for Sámi DRC, and the joint UN-AU efforts in preserving the security gains in Somalia. We are encouraged by the significant progress already achieved through the Action for Peacekeeping initiative and its implementation strategy. This progress must reflect a shift towards more agile and responsive peacekeeping that adapts to the evolving nature of global conflict. The effectiveness and legitimacy of peace operations rests upon their ability to reflect and address the needs of the communities they serve. A more inclusive, people-centered UN peacekeeping calls for greater community engagement, promotion of empowerment of women and youth, inclusive political processes, accountability and transparency, and stronger partnerships with civil society. Integrating gender perspectives into all aspects of peace operations, from planning to execution, and creating opportunities for women and youth engagement in peace-building activities. and economic recovery is critical. So in conclusion, I would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation to all troop-contributing countries and their staff. I would like to extend our condolences to the families of all UN personnel who have made their ultimate sacrifice while providing security and support to people around the world in their search for peace. We pay tribute to all brave women and men who risk their lives every day to deliver on our promise of leaving no one behind. Their courage and dedication remains core of our peacekeeping efforts. Thank you. I resume my function as President of the Council. I now give the floor to the representative of the United Kingdom.

United Kingdom:
Thank you, President. And I thank USG Lacroix, ICG CEO Iro, and IPI President Al Hussein for their valuable insights and their continued support to UN peacekeeping. Let me also thank the brave peacekeepers who put their lives at risk across the world every day and pay tribute to those peacekeepers who lost their lives in the pursuit of peace this year. President, UN peacekeeping is an indispensable element of the Security Council’s toolbox for global peace and security and an important symbol of global cooperation. As peacekeeping faces new and systemic challenges, as we’ve heard, we must protect and improve this tool for the future. I’d like to make three broad points this morning. First, peacekeeping faces evolving challenges. These include the need to maintain the relationship with host states and the importance of setting clear expectations on host state responsibilities. This should reduce the risk of accelerated withdrawals of missions, as we’ve seen recently. In addition, rising misinformation and disinformation. against missions puts the safety and security of our peacekeepers at risk. Peacekeeping needs stronger partnership and collaboration, as well as political support and consent from host nations, to ensure the effective delivery of mandates and well-planned transitions. Second, we should continue to adapt our approach to meet the unique needs of each context. Peacekeeping works best when there is a political process to support or a peace to keep. New missions should be better tailored, more nimble and flexible, with focused and realistic mandates. We must continue to strengthen missions by boosting peacekeeping intelligence, situational awareness, embracing new technologies such as AI, and tackling sexual exploitation and abuse. We must all reaffirm our commitment to the Action for Peacekeeping strategy and support its implementation. Sustainable transitions, guided by best practice and lessons learned, and which safeguard the protection of civilians, will also help ensure that the gains from missions are preserved. Third, we should recognize the progress made on the Women, Peace and Security Agenda and commit to all peace operations being fully representative and safe for women. Women’s contributions are integral in all stages of peacekeeping missions, including drawdowns, transitions, and withdrawals. The UK will continue to help create an enabling environment for women peacekeepers through our support to the ELSI Initiative Fund, the Senior Women Talent Pipeline, and through our bilateral training by the British Peace Support Team. President, the UK remains a committed supporter of UN peacekeeping, including through deployment of peacekeepers and military advisors, and of peacekeeping reform. We look forward to more discussions, including at the Peacekeeping Ministerial Conference in Berlin and its preparatory conferences, on the ways we can help peacekeeping evolve to ensure it can effectively respond to the challenges of the future. Thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of United Kingdom for their statement, and I give the floor to the representative of Switzerland.

Switzerland:
Thank you, Mr. President. I would also like to thank USG Jean-Pierre Lacroix for his introductory remarks, as well as Ms. Comfort Ero, Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, presidents and CEOs of the International Crisis Group, and – and the International Peace Institute, respectively, two renowned organizations with which Switzerland works closely, including on the future of peacekeeping. I would also like to join colleagues in thanking Blue Helmets for their commitment. These courageous men and women do remarkable work in the service of peace every day, often in very difficult circumstances. In particular, we pay tribute to the some 4,300 Blue Helmets who have given their lives since 1948 to protect the lives of others. On the occasion of the day dedicated to peacekeepers last May, the Secretary General stated that these men and women, and I quote, represent multilateralism in action, and that their actions give concrete expression to the new agenda for peace’s commitment to prevention. In view of the thousands of lives saved, we fully share this assessment. On the same day, one year earlier in 2023, as part of the commemoration of 75 years of UN peacekeeping operations, our minister of defense had the honor of presiding over a council debate on the financing of African Union peace support operations. This marked the start of a process that culminated in the adoption of Resolution 2719 last December. Of course, this represents a decisive milestone in cooperation between the United Nations and regional players, first and foremost the African Union. Over the past 75 years, the PKOs have successfully adapted to numerous challenges, often in highly innovative ways. Think, for example, of the strengthening of civilian protection mandates or the inclusion of climate advisors. Today, however, peacekeeping is threatened. in more fundamental ways by existing tensions between states, declining consensus, and reduced acceptance by host states. It is therefore important to continue to adapt this instrument in anticipation of these fundamental changes. Mr. President, our support for peacekeeping must be forward-looking if we want to adapt successfully. I would like to offer the following three thoughts on the role of the Council in this respect. Firstly, peacekeeping must be people-centered. PKOs never take place in a vacuum. They are part of an existing historical, cultural, and social context, and they must support a political process. This process must involve all stakeholders, especially women, whose meaningful participation increases the chances of success and helps mitigate the risks of missions. For the same reason, PKOs must always be linked to a political and peace process. For the latter to be stable, it must be based on the rule of law, which PKOs can help to strengthen or rebuild if we give them the necessary mandates and resources. Similarly, the management of natural resources and the impact of climate change must be taken into account more systematically in the Council’s conceptualization of mandates. Secondly, when it comes to peacekeeping, there is no such thing as one-size-fits-all. It’s all about developing mission models that can be adapted to suit specific situations. The Council must, therefore, have a range of mission formats at its disposal, which it can engage and sequence as required. Thirdly, there must be clear and realistic peacekeeping and strengthening cooperation with regional organizations. Organizations is a promising avenue that should be pursued more vigorously, and strict compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law must be an essential condition of UN support. And finally, the use of innovative solutions based on new technologies, for example, must be encouraged in this rapidly changing world. Finally, peacekeeping is a collective effort. We have heard this. Partnership, trust, and transparency between the Security Council, the Secretariat, troop and police contributing countries, host states, and PKOs are crucial. The unity of the Council is important for the credibility of the PKOs. Their acceptance in the field is ultimately for the safety of peacekeepers. Mr. President, dear colleagues, PKOs are the ultimate expression of solidarity between nations and they have proved their worth. Ongoing discussions, particularly in the context of the new agenda for peace and the summit for the future, must ensure that PKOs continue to protect lives and remain a key instrument of the United Nations. This Council must seize this opportunity and we must have the courage to adapt based on the experiences and lessons learned from recent developments. On the eve of our presidency of the Council in October and the African Union’s visit to New York, we look forward to contributing to this debate, particularly with regard to the implementation of Resolution 2719. Switzerland will continue to actively support peace operations in terms of personnel, financing, and concepts. Thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of Switzerland for their statement and I give the floor to the representative of Malta.

Malta:
Thank you, President. And I also thank Under-Secretary General Lacroix, Mrs. Ero, and Prince Zeid for their comprehensive briefings. At the outset, I would like to commend the efforts and bravery of the UN peacekeepers around the world. Their unwavering commitment allows missions to operate in extremely complex situations and challenging security environments. Malta remains firm in its commitment to the safety and security of peacekeepers. We strongly condemn all attacks against missions, some of which may amount to war crimes under international law. As reported by the Fifth Progress Report on Action for Peacekeeping Plus, 196 peacekeepers lost their lives to malicious acts between January 2017 and September 2024. We mourn their ultimate sacrifice for maintaining peace. Peacekeepers continue to face growing challenges on the ground, including restrictions to the freedom of movement and increasing presence of mercenaries. These are deeply worrying. In addition to threats posed by small commercial UAVs, particularly in Africa, it is also increasingly concerning. President, the role of peacekeeping missions in the maintenance of peace and security and the protection of civilians is invaluable. Malta strongly supports the new Agenda for Peace, the Action for Peacekeeping Initiatives A4P, as well as for Actions for Peacekeeping Plus implementation plan. The most recent Progress Report highlighted that missions are making progress in planning and evaluation, including monitoring mandate implementation. In this regard, we welcome DPO’s package of guidance and support aimed at ensuring that all mission plans are based on a political strategy. The best way to improve peacekeeping operations is to adopt a holistic approach to many cross-cutting issues such as human rights, climate change, and women, peace, and security agenda. To this end, two fundamental things are needed. First, peacekeeping missions must garner broad political support and must have adequate and predictable funding. EU member states are strongly committed to this objective and, together, contribute one quarter of the UN peacekeeping budget. Second, missions must have credible and realistic mandates based on clear political strategies that ensure the protection of civilians and the respect and promotion of human rights. Malta also recognises the negative effects that peacekeeping operations can have on the environment and host communities. It is therefore critical for the Security Council to increase its attention on this challenge and act accordingly. This means deploying green, responsible missions that are efficient in their use of natural resources. Moreover, we reaffirm our strong commitment to upholding the Women, Peace and Security Agenda as a fundamental pillar of any peace process. Robust WPS mandates are crucial for advancing women’s rights and ensuring their full, equal, meaningful and safe participation in all aspects of the maintenance of peace and security. Especially during transitions, gender equality must remain at the core of the UN’s strategy, footprint and capacity to support sustainable peacekeeping. In this regard, we commend the Secretariat’s ongoing efforts. President, as the Secretary General highlighted in his new Agenda for Peace, there often is a persistent gap between missions’ mandates and what they actually deliver. This is also due to the extremely challenging and volatile environments in which they operate. To narrow such gaps, peace operations should take advantage of the full range of civilian capacities and expertise across the UN system and better adapt to ever-evolving threats. In this regard, the upcoming Summit of the Future will also be an opportunity for in-depth reflection on the future of peacekeeping. Malta stands ready to engage with all stakeholders to ensure that peacekeeping operations remain a fundamental pillar of peace and stability around the world. Thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of Malta for their statement. I give the floor to the representative of Mozambique.

Mozambique:
Mr. President, Mozambique highly commends Slovenia Presidency for convening this important and timely meeting. We express our profound gratitude for the insightful briefings by the Under Secretary General for Peace Operations. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, by the President and CEO of the International Crisis Group, Dr. Comfort Ero, and by the President and the Chief Executive Officer of the International Peace Institute, Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, who has served – who has been serving the United Nations for a long time. Mr. President, the role of the United Nations peacekeeping operations has been of fundamental importance to peace and security around the world. In this connection, we wish to pay tribute to all peacekeepers who are serving the cause of humankind and that of the United Nations. The Charter does not define, describe, or even mention the concept of peacekeeping operation in its articles. But this should not be construed as an omission. The function of the peacekeeping missions is strongly grounded on the first purpose of the United Nations, contained in Article 1 of the Charter, and I quote, to contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security, end of quote. Peacekeeping operation is, thus, an indispensable tool of the Security Council in its duty to take effective, collective measures that aim to make peace, to keep peace, or to build peace. As members of the United Nations, we are aware that since the inception in 1948, peacekeeping missions have contributed enormously to our collective security. Mozambique has had our share of experience with the UN peacekeeping operation in the years 1992-1994. Named ONUMOJ after the Portuguese acronym for the UN peacekeeping operation in Mozambique, the operation was at the time one of the largest, one of the shortest, and also, in the view of the United Nations membership, one of the most successful. As we celebrate 30 years of the completion of ONUMOJ, we are engaged in our own reflection to identify the main factors that led to that success. We strongly believe success can be attributed to the following main reasons. A, political will by the parties to end the conflict. B, the political will that was embodied in a binding peace agreement between the parties. C, the overwhelming will of the Mozambican people to bring that devastating apartheid-induced war to an end. And D, a strong support at the regional and international levels for the conflict settlement. On the United Nations side, we are of the view that the following factors were to be taken into account. A, a clear, realistic, and well-designed mandate by the Security Council and the Secretariat. B, a careful and detailed planning by the United Nations Secretariat. C, respect for the SOFA, Status of Force Agreement, between the host country and the United Nations Secretariat. D, the allocation of resources commensurate to the planned mission. E, a full convergence of the scope of understanding between the Security Council and the Secretary General. F, conscience of the fact that even a fragile or, in other cases, a failed state is entitled to its sovereignty and it deserves respect and attention. Ultimately, peace is in their supreme interest and they must own the peace process. Mr. President, we wish to echo what Switzerland just said. One-size-fits-all is a principle that does not fit the tailoring of peacekeeping operations. Each country has its own complexities and each conflict has its own specificities. It is therefore incumbent upon the Security Council and the Secretariat to take adequate measures that fit each situation. Mr. President, in this context, we think it is imperative to rethink partnerships with regional, sub-regional, and local organizations in order to develop tailored mission models. We therefore call on the United Nations and the African Peace and Security Council to effectively implement the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2719. Mr. President, a final comment. More than seven decades after the creation of peacekeeping operations, we need to… strengthen the link that binds peacekeeping, peacemaking, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding continuum. Virtually every nation that needs a peacekeeping operation, it also requires a degree of the other two actions. In most cases, a peacekeeping operation that is completely detached from peacemaking and peacebuilding has a very diminished likelihood of holding. I thank you.

President:
Thank you. I thank the representative of Mozambique for their statement, and I give the floor to the representative of Republic of Korea.

Republic of Korea:
Thank you, Mr. President. I’d like to express my appreciation to U.S. Chief of Staff, Ms. Comfort Ero, and Mr. President Zeid al-Hussein for their valuable contributions. The Republic of Korea recognizes the essential role of UN peacekeeping operations in maintaining global peace and security. We are proud to be a major troop-contributing country, having contributed to 16 PKO missions since our joining the UN 33 years ago, and currently contributing to UNIFIL and UNMISS. We are also one of the major financial contributors to UNPKO. Based on our experience and commitment to PKOs, we would like to make the following points today. First, there must be a renewed consensus that PKO, which is the Security Council’s own creation, should remain one of the most effective tools for maintaining international peace and security, and therefore the Council must provide stronger and more unified support for PKO. In recent years, PKOs have faced unprecedented challenges. Some in Africa find themselves in situations where there is no peace to keep. In addition, MINUSMA in Mali faced an abrupt closure last year due to strained relations with the host country. These challenges should not be ignored. should not be attributed to the failure of PKOs as an instrument, but rather to the conditions that hinder them from achieving their mandate. The Republic of Korea, as chair of the Security Council Working Group on PKO, is committed to leading efforts to secure greater support for PKOs from the wider UN membership, and will strive to build synergies with other PKO-related forums, including the C34 and the Peacekeeping Ministeria. We have convened two meetings so far this year to reinvigorate the working group and plan to contribute to the deliberations about the future of UN PKO. Second, we should better address the transition of PKOs in Africa, which is today’s most pressing and daunting task. If poorly managed, transitions carry many risks, including security vacuums, escalation or relapse into conflict, and threats to the safety of peacekeepers. Drawing on lessons from MINUSMA and ongoing transitions, we would like to emphasize the importance of managing the relationship with the host country and enhancing close cooperation with the regional and sub-regional organizations to facilitate a successful transition. We fully support a complementary partnership with the African Union in this regard, including through the implementation of Security Council Resolutions 2719. We also support the strengthening of coordination between Peacebuilding Commission and the Security Council. Third, PKOs must constantly reform and adapt to changing realities. PKOs must do more to address emerging security threats, such as the malicious use of technologies and the spread of mis- and disinformation. In addition, as highlighted at today’s joint media stakeout, PKOs should play a critical role in mitigating the adverse effects of climate change, which Korea has supported through our financial contributions to the XB fund. Fourth, and finally, PKOs need to be more inclusive. This means encouraging the greater participation of women in PKOs. Women peacekeepers can bring added value in building trust with the local communities. We are proud to contribute to the LCE initiative fund and the training program for women peacekeepers. PKOs also need to engage more directly with local populations, as winning the hearts and minds of the host communities is key to successful peacekeeping. In conclusion, Mr. President, since the first mission in 1948, PKOs have evolved in response to the changing nature of conflicts and the international political environment. We should make collective efforts to make UN PKOs more efficient and effective. Thank you, Mr. President.

President:
I thank the representative of the Republic of Korea for their statement, and I give the floor to the representative of Algeria.

Algeria:
Thank you, Mr. President. Let me extend my thanks to USG Lacroix, to Dr. Comfort Ero, and to Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein for their insightful briefings. Our discussion today is timely. It comes while we are negotiating the pact for the future. A document that covers the crucial matter around UN peacekeeping operation. Yes, the UN peacekeeping operation represents a central component of the international peace. peace effort. However, with the evolving nature of threat and the current security and diplomatic landscape, these operations are showing their limitation due to several considerations. Among these considerations, their mandates. Their mandate setting is lacking much needed robust posture. Thus, and in the perspective of the Berlin Ministerial Conference, it is essential to engage in reflections around designing more offensive and peace enforcement-oriented mandate for the UNPKO. We seize this opportunity to voice our support for the recommendations made by the ASG through the Action for Peace and the A4P+. We also take good note of the ASG policy brief on the new Agenda for Peace. In this regard, I believe that the discussion on strengthening peacekeeping operation should talk the following points. First, there is a need to design adaptable and achievable mandates that provide clear strategic direction for UN peacekeeping operation. Strategic direction based on the realities, priorities and and conditions on the ground. The UN Security Council resolution related to mandate renewal for UN mission need to be streamlined. They should take on board the essence of previous resolutions and the historical background on the matter discussed, without exclusion or based selectivity. Second, it is also necessary to include, from the onset of the mission, clear elements that set out the transition processes and sequenced exit strategy, while preserving security gains. An exit strategy must be based on realistic and implementable benchmarks. This element will provide the Council and the host country in relevant settings with the required visibility. Third, cooperation with the host country in relevant settings need to be further strengthened in accordance with the relevant legal frameworks and the mandate of the mission. It must ensure the UN full attention to the national priorities. In a conflict situation, the relation with all parties has to be balanced and fair. This constitutes an essential prerequisite for the legitimacy of the mission. of the peacekeeping operation. Fourth, the mandate of the peacekeeping mission must include a human rights component, a human rights component to monitor the situation of human rights on the ground and to report violations by parties in conflict settings. Some UN missions have not yet such a tool and their presence on the ground lack legitimacy and credibility. Fifth, fostering partnerships with regional and sub-regional organizations, primarily the African Union, seems to us essential. As mentioned by the High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations already nine years ago, the UN cannot face the multidimensional nature of threat alone. Thus, the adoption of Resolution 2719 represented for us an important milestone. However, its implementation must be based on a realistic and balanced approach, while taking into account the capability of all involved actors. Sixth, the primacy of political solution to conflict needs to be reflected in the mandate of UN PKOs. It has to be done by providing good offices and setting a good example. conducive environment for dialogue between the relevant actors. In this regard, U.S. peacekeeping missions are responsible for upholding the principles as enshrined in the UN Charter of equal rights, of self-determination of people under foreign occupation. Let me conclude, Mr. President, by expressing Algeria’s readiness to contribute to peacekeeping effort. Algeria is ready to put at the disposal of the UN and the international community its knowledge, its expertise in the prevention of conflict and in the maintenance of international peace and security. I thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of Algeria for their statement. I give the floor to the representative of France.

France:
Mr. President, I would like to thank Mr. Lacroix, Ms. Ero, and Prince Zayed for their briefings. I would like to talk about three points. The success of peacekeeping depends primarily on our capacity to find political solutions. In order to foster conditions for the restoration of peace, this Council confers upon PKO’s essential tasks support for political processes, the protection of civilians, and the facilitation of humanitarian aid, human rights protection, capacity building of the state. It is clear that political solutions alone will lead to lasting peace after the withdrawal of peacekeeping operations. mobilized to this end. Members of this council, the host country, the states involved in the peace process, and neighboring countries. It’s important that the council be united around a clear political objective and in its support for PKOs in implementing their mandate. This is the most reliable way of assuring that commitments taken during a peace process be upheld. Cooperation between the host country and the UN is crucial and there are many success stories. I’m thinking about the UN missions in Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, and Sierra Leone, a country that is currently here in this council. Regional and sub-regional organizations as well as neighboring countries also play a key role to support this. Properly linking this is absolutely crucial. So the central nature of political strategies must be at the heart of our efforts. We want the new agenda for peace to reinforce our collective work here. By the same token, PKOs must adapt to new challenges and to new contexts. This is why France supports the action for peacekeeping and its A4P plus implementation strategy. Our support has been demonstrated by the allocation of about seven million euros in voluntary contributions. France advocates a far-reaching vision for peacekeeping. Our support, our vision rather, is to support the UN to deal with new challenges and in particular to combat information manipulation and strategic communication of PKOs. And for example, by fostering digital transformations and by combating IEDs. And we are contributing about one million euros over the next four years for strategic research. We have more than 700 staff in PKOs, most of whom are in UNIFIL. The role of women is crucial. France is implementing the Women, Peace, agenda through its National Action Plan 2021-2025. Here I would like to commend the work of PCCs and TCCs. I would like to pay tribute to all those men and women who have paid the ultimate price for their work. The dynamic launched by the New Agenda for Peace must continue in order to encourage our Council to come up with mandates that are realistic, with clear political priorities, and that are inclusive and environmentally friendly. France will continue to participate, in particular, through the Summit of the Future. Finally, strengthening partnerships is crucial. The adoption of Resolution 2719 pertaining to African peacekeeping operations last December provides us with an excellent opportunity to strengthen complementarity between the UN and the AU. France commends efforts to establish a clear implementation framework. France will contribute in 2024 about €250,000 and will continue to support this. I am also thinking about partnership with the EU. Member States of the EU deploy more than 5,000 personnel in peacekeeping operations. The EU has allocated €1.5 billion to support conflict prevention and security efforts in Sub-Saharan Africa for the period 2021-2027. France will continue to support all of these efforts. Thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of France for their statement. I give the floor to the representative of China.

China:
President, I thank USG Lacroix for his briefing. I have listened carefully to the statements made by the other two briefers. At present, the international and regional security situation are undergoing profound changes. UN peacekeeping operations are at a new crossroads. It is imperative for the Security Council to keep focused on the new situation and challenges, comprehensively review and take stock of lessons learned, and timely calibrate the direction of peace operations. I will focus on the future. on four points in my remarks today. First, the three principles of UN peacekeeping, namely consent of the parties, impartiality, and non-use of force, except in self-defense and defense of the mandate, have been drawn up over many years of practice following some painful lessons along the way. They must remain long-term guiding principles. Many of the challenges presently facing PKOs are related to the pivoting away from these principles in terms of mission mandate and its operation. In the current discussion of how PKOs should be transformed and reinvigorated, it is necessary to reiterate, first and foremost, the importance of adhering to the three principles of peacekeeping. PKOs should not be drawn into the domestic affairs of the countries concerned and should not get involved as a party to the disputes or conflicts. Second, PKOs, an initiative by the United Nations, have many success stories over the decades, but it needs to be recognized that peacekeeping operations are no panacea. PKOs require basic conditions to deploy and to succeed. Above all, most importantly, there needs to be a credible and forward-looking political process. In other words, there is a peace to keep. The Secretary General, in a new Agenda for Peace, notes that PKOs must be deployed based on and in support of a clearly identified political process. This should serve as important guidance for peacekeeping transformation. Expecting PKOs to be a superman to stem the tide and save the day is unrealistic. Expecting PKOs to be a backup man with no regard to the specifics of a given situation is even more irresponsible. Here I wish to point out in particular that the United Nations has deployed peacekeeping operations in Haiti on several occasions, but none of them has proven effective. Lessons learned should be taken fully so as not to repeat past mistakes. It is clear that Haiti, at this time, does not have the conditions for the deployment of a UN peacekeeping operation. Third, peacekeeping missions should have a core mandate that enjoy overall stability. Multidimensional peacekeeping operation deployed in response to internal conflicts within a country should assist but not replace the autonomous efforts of the country concerned. The operation’s core mandate must reflect the realities on the ground and be consistent with the priorities of the country concerned, not the political priorities or even political correctness of others. The Council should avoid expanding missions mandates at every renewal, as this will only lead to inflated mandates that lack focus, thus making the implementation difficult. The long-term stay of a mission is not an end in itself. Such presence may bring new challenges and problems to the mission. Once the situation in the country concerned has stabilized, the Security Council should promptly formulate a clear and actionable exit strategy for the mission. So as to ensure a smooth and orderly transition of the relevant tasks to the government of the country concerned and other UN agencies. Fourth, on the basis of the three points mentioned earlier, I wish to point out the need for the performance of PKOs to be comprehensively improved by performance. I mean not only the individual peacekeepers’ personal competence and their performance, but also the overall quality and effectiveness of the work of the mission as a whole. The mission should maintain good cooperation with the country concerned, winning the support of the government and the people of the country concerned is conducive. inclusive to steering the country to gradually embark on the path of durable peace and security and sustainable development. Mission leaders should demonstrate leadership and ensure high morale and discipline among all mission personnel. In view of the increasing security risks faced by peacekeepers, the United Nations as a system as a whole should improve its emergency response mechanism and minimize casualties. It should be noted that peacekeeping assessments account for two-thirds of the total budget of the organization. This calls for the strongest financial discipline in all aspects of peacekeeping operations, from decision-making to implementation, in order to eliminate waste. There is a need to broaden supplier channels for peacekeeping material procurement so as to effectively improve cost effectiveness. Conditions permitting, peacekeeping missions should pay attention to their social impact on the ground and strive to leave a blue legacy even after their exit. Second, enhancing Africa’s capacity to maintain peace and stability on its own and bolstering support for regional arrangements in Africa are important directions in the UN peacekeeping transformation. China supports the provision of adequate, predictable, and sustainable financial support for AU-led peace operations. We look forward to the framework arrangements set out in Security Council Resolution 2719 being operationalized at an early date. Last week, the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation was held with success. The overall characterization of China-Africa relations has been elevated to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era. China will work with Africa in the next three years to implement 10 partnership initiatives for joining hands to advance the modernization for China-Africa, which includes partnership initiative for common security. China will take measures to support African countries to build their military and national defense capabilities, train national defense and police personnel for African countries, and take action to help Africa get rid of landmine infestation. China will always be there for Africa as good partners working shoulder-to-shoulder in pursuit of quality development and greater security. Thank you, President.

United States:
Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you to Slovenia for hosting this important discussion and to our distinguished speakers for their interventions. Colleagues, this discussion comes at a time when peacekeeping is under intense strain. This strain is due to unprecedented fracturing of the political support that UN peacekeeping missions have traditionally enjoyed. Unnecessary divisions within this Council have weakened support for peacekeeping, the ability of missions to implement their mandates effectively, confidence and support for the UN among host governments and parties to conflict, and the ability of civilians to reap the benefits of peace. Many host governments, with the support of some Security Council members, have politicized mandates, cherry-picking certain tasks and undermining others that have enjoyed longstanding support, including those related to human rights. As a result, mandates less accurately reflect and respond to the conflict, and disappointment grows. This Council has faced moments of deep division many times in its history. But even in those difficult periods, peacekeeping has been an area where we could come together and cooperate in order to address some of the most concerning threats to international peace and security. In that spirit, the United States continues to work with the United Nations on peacekeeping continues to look for ways to strengthen and refine UN peacekeeping and bolster our collective support for this vital tool. We do not agree with those who have lost faith in it. The United States believes we should be improving the peacekeeping models we have today while expanding the menu of options to ensure that the response is well-suited to conflict dynamics and political environments. We should also be vigilant to preserve institutional expertise and frameworks regarding UN peacekeeping. Multidimensional peacekeeping has proven effective at achieving difficult objectives – protecting civilians, supporting peace agreements, bolstering the capacities of responsible host governments, and preventing the recurrence of conflict. We continue to believe in this tool and will continue to support current and new multidimensional missions as appropriate. At the same time, we must also explore other models that may be needed in different scenarios. In some cases, a more targeted mandate focusing on a more specific and limited set of objectives may be better suited to the context and more successful at securing broad support from the Council. In some cases, it may be more appropriate and effective for the AU or a regional organization to lead the response. And with the historic adoption of Security Council Resolution 2719, we now have a mechanism for the UN to support AU peace support operations authorized by the Council. As we explore new models and consider the range of tools, we must maintain focus on key factors that are important to the success and the integrity of UN peacekeeping missions, old and new. We must remain committed to the core principles of peacekeeping, including impartiality. UN missions do not exist as service providers to host governments. They are impartial actors. whose mandate is to address threats to international peace and security, regardless of the source of that threat. Second, missions must operate free of obstruction in order to effectively implement their mandates and to ensure the safety and security of their own personnel. When peacekeepers encounter obstruction or access restrictions, this Council has a duty to act swiftly to support the mission and ensure its free operation in accordance with its Status of Forces Agreement. Lastly, we should always bear in mind that missions exist to serve populations to create a safer and more secure environment for civilians whose lives are torn apart by conflict. Civilians expect peacekeepers to protect them from violence. We learned this lesson the hard way after the tragedies in Rwanda and Srebrenica. Whether in current models or new models, protecting civilians and creating a more peaceful and secure environment for them should be at the core of peacekeeping. Relatedly, peacekeeping operations create the space for durable political solutions, which requires genuine inclusion of women, youth, and other marginalized groups. Colleagues, in closing, let me emphasize again that UN peacekeeping is an invaluable tool with a long history of responding effectively to prevent and mitigate conflicts. The United States looks forward to working with our fellow Council members to protect and strengthen this extraordinary tool. Thank you, Mr. President.

President:
I thank the representative of the United States for their statement, and I give the floor to the representative of Japan.

Japan:
Thank you, Mr. President. I thank U.S. Secretary of State for their respective briefings. Peacekeeping operations remain one of the most effective tools available to the United Nations to promote international peace and security, yet they face increasingly complex challenges today. Japan believes that peacekeeping operations can best perform when there is a strong and collective will from all actors, including member states, the Security Council, host countries, troop and police contributing countries, regional organizations, financial contributors, the Secretariat, and missions. The Security Council especially has a critical role in driving an active and coherent political strategy, which is a key to the effective peacekeeping operations. In order to maintain and even strengthen the performance of the UN peacekeeping, I would like to highlight three points. First, mandates for peacekeeping operations need to be realistic and achievable with a clear strategic objective. For this purpose, the Security Council must ensure that peacekeeping mandates accommodate the needs and expectations of host governments and their people, while upholding purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law. We also call on this Council to maintain close communications with the TCCs, PCCs, and missions on the ground to understand their capabilities and challenges. Second, in order to achieve sustainable peace, the Security Council must take a horizontal approach which not only focuses on peacekeeping led by military and police, but also considers peacemaking, peacebuilding, and prevention. In the open debate held under Japan’s presidency in March, many member states stressed an important role of the Council to prevent conflict and its recurrence, and to need to address the root causes of conflicts through a comprehensive approach, including the areas of peace, humanitarian, and development. They also emphasized the Council should more focus on individuals of the local community including women and youth, for their society to be resilient and sustainable. In this regard, the Council needs to ensure the peace operation develops exit strategies and viable transition plans from the earliest stage possible, in close coordination with host countries and UN country teams. At UN headquarters, Japan continues to encourage the Security Council to better utilize the advisory role of the Peacebuilding Commission to incorporate the prevention perspective into its work, including the mandates of peace operations. Third, the safety and security of peacekeepers must be prioritized. Peacekeeping missions can fully implement their mandates only when they can operate safely with firm support from troop and police-contributing countries. In order to mitigate the risks to peacekeepers, Japan continues to support the UN’s efforts to develop and provide training programs in areas including counter-IEDs, peacekeeping intelligence in countering misinformation and disinformation, and medical capacity. In this regard, Japan intends to co-host with Uruguay in December the preparatory meeting of the 2025 Peacekeeping Ministerial to deepen international discussion on training and partnership. The role of regional organizations, the African Union in particular, becomes more significant in conjunction with the UN peacekeeping. Thus, it is important to enhance the capabilities of their personnel. In this regard, Japan will support capacity-building for personnel of AU-led peace support operations through the UN Triangular Partnership Program. Mr. President, when these conditions are met, there will be a greater unity among all stakeholders leading to stronger political support for effective peace operations. Japan reiterates our continued commitment to collective efforts to strengthen UN peacekeeping, including the initiatives under the Action for Peacekeeping. I thank you, Mr. President.

President:
I thank the representative of Japan for their statement, and I give the floor to the representative of Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone:
Mr. President, I thank you for convening this important open debate. Sierra Leone commands troop and police contributing countries and all peace peacekeepers, and I as well pay tribute to the police and troop-contributing countries and peacekeepers who have paid the ultimate price. I thank the briefers, Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Dr. Comfort, and Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, for their valuable briefings. The Secretary-General on the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers in May reminded us of two important truths, first, that peace is humanity’s highest ideal, and second, that achieving this ideal is hard work. Certainly, as we look around the world throughout the century, we see that peace and security and the Pacific settlement of dispute, as envisioned in Article 33 of the UN Charter, has been limited. Nevertheless, it is an ideal that is worth aspiring to, making the mandates of this Security Council and the tool for achieving it, including peacekeeping, of critical importance. While peacekeeping operations have been a cornerstone of efforts to maintain global peace and security, conflict dynamics over the past decades have generated a range of challenges to UN peacekeeping operations that have necessitated a significant evolution from traditional peacekeeping missions mandated to support interstate ceasefires and peace agreement. Peace operations have evolved over time to address interstate conflict, state fragility, scenarios involving asymmetric use of force, asymmetric access to and distribution of resources, and non-state violent extremist threats. The rise of multidimensional peace operations in recent years reflects this shift, as the UN has gradually expanded its role into state-building, stabilization, protection of civilians, human rights monitoring, institutional capacity-building. robust use of force. This shift also recognizes the multifaceted causes of conflict and the necessity of addressing the root causes as well as the forces that perpetrate it. Today’s conflict trends and the geopolitical dynamics may require another evolution in the current and future design and application of peace operations if the UN is to remain relevant and effective in the maintenance of international peace and security. In 20 UN peacekeeping with reflections for the future, Sierra Leone would like to emphasize the following three points. Firstly, an acknowledgement that UN peacekeeping operations are integral to the achievement of global peace and security. As the human experience continues to be unfortunately characterized by competition and conflict, evidence showed that there have been approximately 268 wars including the world wars, regional wars, and civil wars since the 1900s. Since 1948 there have been 72 UN peacekeeping operations deployed around the globe charged with preventing and managing violent conflict between and within states as well as supporting national actors in protecting and building peace after conflict. As stated by USG Lacroix previously, there is a positive correlation between peacekeeping operations and lower levels of violence in conflict zones and there is indisputable evidence to conclude that having a blue helmet force in place and I quote, not only works at stopping conflict but works better than anything else experts know, end of quote. There is overwhelming evidence that UN peace operations provide opportunities for dialogue and sustainable resolution thereby reducing incidents of conflict reoccurring. Peacekeeping missions mandated by this council continue to be a beacon of hope and action for hundreds, millions of men, women, and children towards restoring peace, order, and human dignity. Secondly, peacekeeping missions must be driven by clear mandates and strategies. Maintaining peace in an increasing polarized world characterized by heightened competition for resources, volatility in geopolitical alliances, more destructive weapons of war. War, and significant threats to multilateralism require clearly defined rules and models for interaction, cooperation, and collaboration by member states, especially with regards to resolving conflict. UN peacekeeping operations must be deployed as strategic political tools within an arsenal of strategies for conflict resolution and state building. Peacekeeping operations are not earned unto themselves, but rather be established within the context of a relevant and thorough assessment of a conflict situation and for the expressed purposes of supporting peace agreement between conflict parties. The objective of resolving conflict and achieving lasting peace must be well articulated by the Security Council in our decisions and statement. Inasmuch as there might be initial differences of opinion on the need and scope of peacekeeping, the ultimate decision to deploy one operation must be based on a commitment to the overarching principle of securing peace and human dignity, respect for sovereignty, equality, and cooperation in the conflict situation as envisaged in the UN Charter. A new approach for configuring peacekeeping operations to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow must always be based on adherence to the principles of the UN Charter and to upholding human rights. The new Agenda for Peace notes that, and I quote, without the basic norms enshrined in the Charter, international relations could degenerate into chaos, end of quote, and in doing so lays emphasis on the importance of adherence to the legitimate and collective enforcement actions authorized by the Security Council. Political will by member states, especially for the Security Council, is paramount in establishing legitimacy and success of peacekeeping operations. Support by member states remains critical, as well as a clear mandate establishing the boundaries of operation to ensure the same level of acceptance and commitment throughout the life of a peacekeeping mission. To my third point, the multidimensional complexity of the causes and nature of conflict necessitates more adaptive and people-centered missions. models that can effectively respond to complex crises and changing situations. Whilst acknowledging that the demands on peacekeeping operations are ever-expanding, the UN has had to adapt and respond to the practical needs of conflict situations, resulting in an evolution of the scope of operations to include issues such as protection of civilians, gender-based sexual violence, food insecurity, climate change, and transitional justice. Enabling and institutionalizing this diversity of mission mandate requires a renewed commitment to a dynamic partnership between member states and the UN Peacekeeping Administration that considers the capabilities required to match the scale and complexities of these operations. Partnerships with regional arrangements for peacekeeping remain critical, and Sierra Leone continues to applaud the significance of Resolution 2719 on financing African Union-led peace support operations. The chief partnership format, as endorsed in Resolution 2699 in the Security Council mandating multinational support mission in Haiti, and 2746 authorizing MONOSCO support to SAMI-DRC are also critical. Partnership in peacekeeping operations with host country must cover the continuum of approval to joint planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, as peace and security process must be nationally owned and led. A successful peacekeeping operation must include strengthening national government capacities to protect, including through the rule of law, security sector reform, and inclusive political processes. Effective partnership with local and national authorities are particularly important in the success of interventions for providing physical protection and deterring attacks on civilians through active patrols, early warning systems, community alert networks, and public information and reporting systems. Let me close, Mr. President, by stressing the significance of prevention and peacebuilding as key elements for improving global peace and security architecture. We must make a case for proactive prevention actions across all development settings, such that our social, economic, and political institutions, systems, and processes are responsive to the needs of people. Configuring UN peacekeeping to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow requires that we expand our expectations and tools beyond ending wars, but rather work on preventing them from occurring and reoccurring. I thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of Sierra Leone for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Guyana.

Guyana:
Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to thank the briefers, USG Lacroix, Dr. Ero, and Dr. Al-Hussein for their insightful briefs. We gather today at a crucial moment. moment for international peace and security, as while we reflect on the current state of UN peacekeeping, the world is not at peace, and for many, there is no security. The United Nations was established to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, and UN peacekeeping has evolved as one of the main tools to achieve this purpose. It remains the cornerstone of our collective efforts to prevent, stabilize, and resolve conflicts peacefully. However, the evolving nature of conflicts, marked by complex domestic, geopolitical, and transnational factors, necessitates a continuous adaptation of our peacekeeping strategies and tools. With 11 active missions, peacekeepers continue to operate in some of the most challenging environments, providing critical support to conflict-affected communities. Reports of the Secretary-General across the spectrum of conflict situations increasingly highlight the need for enhanced protection of civilians, greater accountability, and improved operational effectiveness. While significant progress has been made, there remain persistent challenges. The rising threat of terrorism, open threats to peacekeepers by armed groups, and the impacts of climate change all exert additional pressure on our peacekeeping efforts. These challenges are coupled with amplified threats to the lives of our peacekeepers, execution of their mandates, including unwieldy bureaucratic measures, and dwindling host nation support. These challenges demand our urgent attention. Mr. President, the Secretary-General’s new agenda for peace, grounded in trust, solidarity, and universality, underscores the necessity for a holistic approach for peacekeeping, one that integrates conflict prevention, peace enforcement, and peacebuilding to create a sustainable pathway to peace and security. It is now time for us to put the lessons learned into practice. In some ways, we have already begun updating our approach to peacekeeping. In this vein, we commend the adoption of Resolution 2719, which represents a pivotal stride towards empowering regional organizations and improving the efficacy of peacekeeping operations through enhancing the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union. We must now implement Resolution 2719. Similarly, the endorsement by the Council of the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti, led by Kenya, represents another approach aimed at stabilizing security in order for a CARICOM-facilitated political process to move forward. However, it must be underscored that while regional and sub-regional organizations such as the African Union and CARICOM play a crucial role in the region, this by no means absolves the Security Council of its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. In looking ahead to the Summit of the Future, the 2025 Peacekeeping Ministerial Meeting, and to the future of peacekeeping, I would like to proffer some suggestions. First, the ultimate success of a peacekeeping operation is when a sustainable political solution is achieved in the process the PKO was established to support, and the PKO is no longer needed. We must therefore do more to ensure that parties to the conflict agree to and implement political solutions. To do this, this Council must be united, as our briefers have stressed. Second, we must strengthen the capacities of peace operations through enhanced training, modernized equipment, and improved strategic planning. Moreover, the principles of transparency and accountability must remain at the forefront of our peacekeeping mandates. Third, as we confront a changing threat landscape and consider policy or operational reorientations, we must ensure that the highest standards of conduct and respect for human rights and international and humanitarian law are upheld and remain a central pillar of peace operations. Ensuring the safety and well-being of civilians must remain paramount in all our endeavors. Fourth, as we plan for peace operations, we must factor in the impacts of climate change, since this can act as a threat multiplier, exacerbating vulnerabilities and compounding existing grievances. Finally, President, peacekeeping must be inclusive, with the full and equal participation of women at all levels of command, in all phases of operations and planning, and in all decision-making processes. This is truly an essential ingredient for a sustainable peace. We must also enhance the implementation of Resolution 2250 on youth, peace and security, and ensure that youth play a key role in conflict prevention and resolution efforts. In closing, we salute the many peacekeepers around the world, and those who have paid the ultimate price in pursuit of peace. I reaffirm Guyana’s firm commitment to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to strengthen peacekeeping frameworks. I thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of Guyana for their statement, and I give the floor to the representative of Ecuador.

Ecuador:
Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to welcome the valuable statements by Jean-Pierre Lacroix, USG for Peace Operations, Dr. Comfort Ero, President and CEO of the International Crisis Group, and Mr.Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, President and CEO of the International Peace Institute. Since my country contributes to peace operations in four countries, and as we stand just a few weeks prior to adopting the Pact for the Future, which is to set key commitments for adapting peace operations to current challenges. This debate is particularly relevant. I therefore would like to highlight a few key elements to mobilize necessary support for UN peace operations. Firstly, it is crucial to ensure effective coordination between actors involved in peace missions in order to support an inclusive political strategy which addresses the deep-rooted causes of conflicts, open dialogue with host countries on mandate strategies, as well as a reflection on progress shown through data and indicators in Security Council reports will guarantee that these missions are effective and are adjusted in particular to local contexts and to changes above all. Coordination among interested parties is essential for mission success, and therefore the Action for Peacekeeping Initiative and Implementation Strategy Action for Peacekeeping Plus, which Ecuador supports, play a key role. Secondly, it is essential for mandates to be clear, prioritized, and feasible, and aligned with realities on the ground. This approach is vital for defining strategic objectives and prioritizing mission tasks, and here the Security Council has a leading role to play. Thirdly, adequate and sustainable financing is a fundamental vital pillar, not just for UN peace missions, but also for additional efforts. In that regard, I would underscore the leadership of the A3, Gabon, Ghana, and Mozambique in the adoption of Resolution 2719 in December of last year when Ecuador was presiding over the Security Council. That resolution establishes a framework for predictable and sustainable financing for peace support operations led by the African Union. as well as other compliance frameworks. Bolstering operations by regional and sub-regional organizations is crucial in order to guarantee a coordinated response. Initiatives such as the multinational security support mission in Haiti under the distinguished leadership of Kenya with the participation of CARICOM and authorized under Resolution 2699 must have coordination mechanisms with the UN mission on the ground. And to that end, its mandate must be aligned accordingly. Fourthly, peace missions should begin planning transitions to host countries, to UN country teams and other relevant national actions beginning at the early stages of its operations. Early planning will facilitate orderly and sustainable transitions, ensuring that local capacity can be developed and that responsibilities can be transferred. Finally, I’d also like to underscore the importance of strategic communications. We must underscore successes, manage expectations, and counter disinformation and hate speech. Effective communication is needed so that coordination among all stakeholders can become a reality. Finally, peace operations are instruments, they’re tools, and they are constantly evolving. And they must move forward with an aim to continued improvement. We believe that we can draw lessons from errors in the past and meet all future challenges. Thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of Ecuador for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Russian Federation.

Russian Federation:
Thank you, Mr. President. We carefully listened to the statements of the undersecretary general of the UN, Jean-Pierre the president and CEO of the International Crisis Group, Ms. Comfort Ero, and the CEO of the International Peace Institute, Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein. We’d like to thank them for sharing their views. As one of the main UN instruments in the area of the maintenance of peace and security, peacekeeping for decades now has had a direct impact on the lives of millions of people. Great hopes are pinned on peacekeeping operations since their role is to tackle urgent problems and also to assist long-term crisis settlement. Changes in the nature and specificities of conflicts, the dangerous work and conditions for missions often complicated by difficult humanitarian and socioeconomic situations, of course, dictate the needs for peacekeeping mechanisms to adapt. This is precisely why the focus of attention of member states and the UN Secretariat involve matters pertaining to the future of peacekeeping, to opportunity to transform it to better meet today’s challenges and also to improve the effectiveness of the work of PKOs and to ensure the safety and security of Blue Helmets and civilian personnel. Whatever transformations UN peacekeeping operations undergo to maintain peace, they must be based on the unswerving respect for the sovereignty of the host country and on strict compliance with the aims and principles of the UN Charter and also the fundamental basic principles of peacekeeping, that is, the consent of parties, impartiality and the non-use of force apart from in self-defense and to protect the mandate. Another crucial part of maintaining peace and security is cooperation between the UN and constructive regional and sub-regional organizations. We fervently advocate developing such cooperation based on the UN Charter and primarily its Chapter 8. We’re convinced that regional integration organizations, first and foremost the AU, are aware of the issues facing their members firsthand. For this reason, they can play an important role in supporting states’ desires to ensure well-being and safety of their citizens. We advocate a consistent development of UN cooperation with the African Union and sub-regional organizations based on the principle African solutions to African problems. Furthermore, we’re convinced that the key to success of African operations is level-headed assessment by countries of the region of existing threats but also ways to overcome them and also a willingness to bear the risks when responding to challenges to peace and security. It’s also important for African countries to hold space for their own solutions regarding ways to counter threats. irrespective of the form of external financial assistance. This is precisely why we supported Security Council resolution, the Security Council resolution on financing African peacekeeping. Mr. President, we’re convinced that the key to the effectiveness of the work of peacekeeping missions first and foremost involves creating conditions for dialogue between the parties to the conflict in order to find a political solution to the conflict. For this, it’s important for missions to focus on finding ways to agree on the reasons that cause the crisis. Without defining this, it’s difficult to gather resources as well. Unfortunately, there are situations where opinions on this significantly diverge, not only between warring parties, but also between the main regional or interested non-regional players, and even within the UN Security Council. Without unity in the council, it’s not possible to agree upon a clear realistic mandate or to build trust with the host country or provide effective support to regional efforts. A lack of clear and achievable aims for peacekeeping missions also makes it harder to achieve significant results in improving the effectiveness of the mission. We believe it’s important to cut the secondary non-mandate tasks for peacekeepers, in particular those that are of human rights in nature, gender or climate in nature. They detract from implementing the main duties and require significant financing. When determining PKO’s mandates, it’s absolutely crucial to consider the opinion and needs of the host countries. There’s also a real need for cooperation between peacekeeping missions and the secretariat and the government of the host country, and also for unwavering respect for the legitimate interests in peacekeepers upholding their mandate. Constructive cooperation with the host countries is the key to successful implementation of the duties of peacekeeping operations. It is the national authorities which shoulder the main responsibility. for the protection of civilians and for eradicating the root causes of the crisis and for post-conflict recovery. We should recall that resolving a domestic crisis in a country is a difficult, painstaking, and often long-term process. This must be national in nature and should consider the interests of all population groups. There’s no one-size-fits-all. There’s a need for finding unique solutions based on social, cultural, civilization, and historic particularities of the specific societies. Such a durable social contract can only be provided by the government of the host country. The role of the international community here is to provide the necessary political support and to share its experience and to provide humanitarian and economic assistance. Ignoring the priorities and interests of the host country and its civilian population can only lead to a worsening of relations. This is closely linked to the growth of disinformation and misinformation about the UN, which has been actively discussed recently in various fora within the organization. This requires a comprehensive approach. This is because negative comments against the UN are not always attempts to besmirch its reputation. Sometimes these criticisms show disappointment within the host countries and their population. They should not be ignored. Further, UN peacekeeping missions should explain their mandate. They should actively work with ordinary people through the radio, the TV, and social media, and also carry out local quick impact projects. All this can help to build constructive cooperation with the host country and reliable contacts, and as a result, can strengthen the authority and prestige of the UN. Mr. President, our country pays particular attention to peacekeeping operations. Russians are involved in Sudan and South Sudan, in Western Sahara, in Cyprus, and in the Middle East and elsewhere. Russia is one of the main payers for peacekeeping. peacekeeping operations based on our ministry of defense and ministry of internal affairs. We train both Russian and foreign instructors and peacekeepers, including women. We believe that the main area of development for the work of UN peacekeeping, and in particular determine its future form, should be agreed upon in an intergovernmental format. Here, the best forum is the UN Special Committee of the GEA on Peacekeeping, the C34. Most member states of the organization, including TCCs and host countries, there have an opportunity to hammer out general approaches to the parameters of peacekeeping activities that should guide the UN Secretariat and missions on the ground. Only with strict compliance in practice with the agreements and obligations achieved between states can the necessary level of trust between all interested parties be attained, and the effectiveness of the work of peacekeeping missions and their ultimate success can be achieved. We are convinced that having solidarity among states in regards to the principles of the functioning of peacekeeping operations will simplify the solving of concomitant matters. In conclusion, I would like to use this opportunity to express our gratitude to military, police and civilian personnel of UN peacekeeping missions for their unwavering commitment to carrying out their noble duty in very difficult and dangerous circumstances, with a daily risk to their lives. Thank you very much.

President:
I thank the representative of Russian Federation for their statement. Before continuing, I wish to remind all speakers to limit their statements to no more than three minutes in order to enable the Council to carry out its work expeditiously. The flashing light on the microphone will prompt speakers to bring their remarks to a close after three minutes. I now give the floor to the representative of Egypt.

Egypt:
Thank you for having convened this debate. We’d also like to thank the different briefers. Egypt is aware of the crucial role played by PKOs. We, one of the first countries to support these operations and are one of the main TCCs and PCCs. PKOs have evolved through time. Mandates are increasingly complex and there are unprecedented difficulties facing them. There are non-conventional operations, or the theater operations are non-conventional and nonetheless the resources to tackle these are insufficient. This is why Egypt’s vision in terms of reforming peacekeeping architecture is based on several points, including the primacy of political solutions, the need for a clear mandate that can be implemented and that is based on priorities while providing for necessary measures for the safety and security of the Blue Helmets. There’s also a need to provide financial resources to implement Resolution 2719 based on logic and justice. We also need to provide Blue Helmets with necessary training and support the host country in particular in the area of the transition phase. There’s also a need to strengthen partnerships between the UN and regional organizations whilst bolstering the interaction between our council and the Peace Building Commission, something that we strongly support. Following the withdrawal of MINUSMA, ladies and gentlemen, Egypt considers that the United Nations must continue efforts that have been made for several years now in the area of peace. of considering the strategy regarding UN policies and mechanisms to support national ownership and national leadership during transition phases. We believe that this is the primary lesson we have learned in order to strengthen future peacekeeping missions. Indeed, the consent of the host country is not always guaranteed, and that is why there is a need to work to ensure this consent and to support national ownership of all PKOs. We can see today that there are serious losses and PCCs and TCCs have endured this. This is because we see that there’s a lack of harmonization between the missions and the host country, and so this makes the missions of the different PKOs very difficult. We express the hope that this is something that will be taken into consideration in preparation for the Berlin Ministerial Conference in May 2025. Egypt considers that PKOs should enjoy more targeted action. This should be based on necessary technological capabilities, and the capacity of the missions themselves also needs to be built as well. In conclusion, I’d like to mention the efforts made by Egypt in the area of training in the area of PKOs. We provide training to Egyptian, Arab, and African troops within PKOs, this is through the Cairo National Center for Peacekeeping Training. We also have the Sadat Center, and this is for peace building, and this is currently being established under the Egyptian Defense Ministry. Thank you very much indeed.

President:
I thank the representative of Egypt for this statement. I now give the floor to His Excellency, Mr. Stavros Lambrinidis, Head of Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations.

European Union:
Thank you, Madam President, I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union and its member states, the candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Georgia align themselves with this statement. Madam President, first, I’d like to thank Slovenia for organizing this important debate, as well as our distinguished briefers for their insightful remarks. We’d also like, like many others in this room, to take this opportunity to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of peace. As we speak, conflicts proliferate across the globe, and gross violations of the UN Charter and international law are widespread, we all know this. The increasing weaponization of strategic resources, the emergence of new areas such as cyber, AI, and space, and the increasing impact of climate change and environmental degradation pose new threats to global peace and security. We must all recommit to promoting international cooperation, upholding the rules-based international order, and strengthening network multilateralism with the United Nations at its core for our peace-building work to be furthered. As such, partnerships are an indispensable pillar of the EU’s effort to promote global peace and security. The EU-UN Strategic Partnership on Peace. operations and crisis management is a key strand of our cooperation. We want to reinforce our strategic partnership by agreeing on a new set of priorities for 2025-2027. The European Union, dear colleagues, currently deploys 21 civilian and military missions and operations, some of which were established in parallel to UN missions, with a primary focus on Africa and with our African partners. Three EU operations directly implement UN Security Council mandates – Operation Irini in the Mediterranean Sea, Operation Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Operation Aspidus in the Red Sea. We coordinate on political messaging on information sharing on critical issues. Making UN peacekeeping fit for the future will require the joint support of UN member states for the UN’s continued leading role in peacekeeping. In this vein, we must, first, ensure that UN peacekeeping operations receive full political support and adequate resources. EU member states contribute today over 4,000 personnel to UN peacekeeping missions, as well as close to 24 percent of the UN peacekeeping budget in 2024 alone. Support for political processes is also fundamental to achieving sustainable peace in host countries. Second, ensure that peace operations are adapted to present and future challenges, including through strengthening the role of regional organizations. And I take notice, like so many others, of the importance of Resolution 2719. Third, promote the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda, intensify efforts on climate and security, and increase the focus on conflict prevention and peacebuilding, as so many others again have mentioned. The European Union fully supports the UN Secretary-General’s new Agenda for Peace. We look forward to seeing its recommendations. reflected in the pact of the future. We also look forward to deepening our discussions on the future of UN peacekeeping in the context of the next peacekeeping ministerial in Germany in 2025. Madam President, to close, the upcoming Summit of the Future constitutes a unique opportunity to reinvigorate the multilateral system and make the UN fit for purpose. I want to thank again the Slovenian Presidency for taking the initiative of convening today’s exceptionally important discussion. Thank you, Madam President.

President:
I thank His Excellency Mr. Lamprimidis for their statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Ethiopia.

Ethiopia:
Thank you, President, for giving me the floor. We thank the Slovenian Presidency for organizing this open debate. We also wish to thank the Under-Secretary-General for peace operations and other briefers this morning for their insightful remarks. While UN peacekeeping can be a fundamental tool for collective security, the current state of UN peacekeeping requires comprehensive reflection. From my country’s extensive involvement with United Nations peacekeeping missions and African Union peace support operations, we wish to raise a few points on what we see to be a challenge and considerations in the efforts to improve UN peacekeeping. President, out of the 11 existing UN peacekeeping missions, five of them are in the African continent. While the number and size of peacekeeping missions in other parts of the world continue to downsize, the missions in Africa maintain extensive size, mandate, and prolonged stay. The declining trend in acceptability of peacekeeping peacekeeping missions is not solely attributed to the missions themselves. It should also be seen in the context of global politics, the lack of international cooperation and synergy for development and national capacity building, and eroding credibility issues surrounding the UN Security Council, the changing threat landscape, and the modus operandi of peacekeeping missions themselves. I will raise the following four points that we believe would help better design UN peacekeeping for the future. Peacekeeping missions should be a measure of last resort, not tools for reasons of expediency. In this regard, first, peace processes and other initiatives of the UN associates itself with must have ownership of national governments. Peacekeeping missions that result from political processes with no national ownership are bound to face challenge during implementation. Furthermore, we believe priority should be given to regional mechanisms and solutions. Regional peace support and peacemaking efforts have demonstrated comparative advantage. The UN Security Council is best placed to play a supporting role to those mechanisms. Second, complementarity of peace and development. Peacekeeping missions operate in a complex national context. In many instances, the host countries are under sanctions of one type or another and have extremely limited access to international cooperation. This creates unnecessary perception of competition for resources between the peacekeeping missions and the host countries. This is not tenable. The missions will be more effective in the delivery of their objectives if the host countries and communities are able to access adequate development finance, enabling provision of public service, and creation of reliable national capability. This would give the states concerned the policy space to decide on their national security and political dispensation. Third, credibility and transparency of processes at the Secretariat and the Security Council is a critical element. The representation deficit in the Security Council as it applies to Africa is a standing challenge peacekeeping will continue to face. This structural and historical problem must be resolved for the decisions of the Council, enabling those establishing peacekeeping missions to enjoy better credibility. In the meantime, host countries and other concerned states must be sufficiently involved in the preparation of threat analysis, mission design, and decision making. Finally, in relation to the peacekeeping missions themselves, we are of the view that the approach taken to ensure safety and security of peacekeepers should not result in secluding peacekeeping missions from the community they are intended to protect. Over-militarization of peacekeeping and over-emphasis on use of new technologies creates unduly cautious environment due to its impact on sovereignty of the host countries. There is a need to address this concern with adequate consideration of the concerns of the host countries. In conclusion, President, the UN, as part of its Its efforts for peacemaking should be more proactive to advocate for and take concrete measures towards enhanced support for national capacity, strengthened roles and responsibilities of regional organizations, and enhanced cooperation with the United Nations while preserving elements of autonomy, solidarity, and context-relevant means of operation. I thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of Ethiopia for their statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Pakistan.

Pakistan:
Thank you, Madam President. We congratulate Slovenia for convening this meeting, and we welcome the thoughtful interventions that have been heard from Under Secretary General Lacroix, Dr. Comfort, as well as my brother, Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein . Madam President, UN peacekeeping is a success story. There is a clear correlation between the presence or absence of peacekeepers and the level of violence in conflict zones. Peacekeeping is also a cost-effective option, especially when compared to national operations for peacekeeping. Pakistan has a long and close involvement with peacekeeping. One of the oldest – we host one of the oldest UN missions, the UNMOGIP, the Military Observer Group for India and Pakistan, since 1949, which observes the ceasefire on the line of control in disputed Jammu and Kashmir. We have also, over the years, deployed 230,000 peacekeepers in 46 missions and lost 181 peacekeepers in these operations. Madam President, as the conflicts have become more complex, Pakistan joined and supported the concept of multidimensional peacekeeping during our last term on the Security Council. And UN peacekeeping has improved considerably with the implementation of the A4P and the A4P-plus plans offered by the Secretary General. But in recent times, we have encountered challenges. These arise from terrorist groups, organized criminal networks, external interventions, higher host country expectations, resource limitations, and the erosion of unified support. the Security Council. Pakistan advocates the following main lines of response to the challenges confronting UN peacekeeping. First, the international community, especially the UN and the Security Council, should extend full support to those, like the African Union, who are prepared to take more robust operations where necessary. Pakistan welcomes Security Council Resolution 2719 and desires its effective implementation. Secondly, we need to see how to supplement and strengthen the national and regional capacities, especially in Africa but also elsewhere, for preemptive conflict prevention, cross-border interdiction, control over illegal exploitation of natural resources, promoting interstate and interstate cooperation. Third, we should do everything possible to strengthen and further improve the continuing traditional UN peacekeeping operations, such as those in Central Africa, Central African Republic, DRC, South Sudan, and perhaps elsewhere. They require realistic mandates, adequate resources, and unified support from the Security Council, UN troop-contributing and police-contributing countries, and the United Nations itself at headquarters and in the field. The emphasis must be on performance and competence. Fourth, peacekeeping missions should be put greater emphasis on promoting local peace arrangements at the community level, wherever possible, to reduce violence. The successful efforts of the Pakistani peacekeepers in Abyei are a good example. Fifth, the Council should create dedicated and effective political mechanisms to address the root causes of conflict and disputes. This will require greater cooperation among members of the Security Council, especially the permanent members, notwithstanding their geopolitical rivalries. Sixth, peacekeeping efforts should be reinforced with the participation of the Peacebuilding Commission, the UN’s development agencies, and the Resident Coordinator System, as well as the international financial institutions. And finally, we would also need to devise appropriate mechanisms for the seamless implementation of such a comprehensive strategy. This should involve the Security Council, the C34, and the Peacebuilding Commission, as well as regional, cross-regional organizations, such as the African Union and perhaps the OIC. Madam President, Pakistan looks forward to contributing actively to building these responses to the current challenges at the Ministerial Preparatory Meeting next March in Islamabad, co-sponsored by the Republic of Korea, and during our forthcoming tenure on the Security Council and in the Peacebuilding Commission. I thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of Pakistan for his statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Morocco.

Morocco:
Madam President, I would like to congratulate Slovenia on its presidency of the Security Council this month, and for convening this open debate on such a crucial issue for the United Nations and for peace and security. I would like to also thank the Under-Secretary General, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Dr. Comfort Ero, and Mr. Prince Zayed Al-Hussein for their briefings and the enlightening information they shared with us. Madam President, we commend the constant attention that the Security Council gives to the effectiveness of PKOs. We welcome the ongoing efforts of the Secretary General that has considered the future of peacekeeping and has made this a central part of his document. on a new agenda for peace. Nonetheless, the efforts deployed to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of peacekeeping operations is struggling to keep up the crisis of confidence that peacekeeping in the UN is currently experiencing is a very tangible demonstration of this. There are current challenges. They are multifaceted and complex. They require new approaches that mean that we need to anticipate and prevent, but also act to ensure lasting peace. We reiterate our firm conviction that the establishment of lasting peace absolutely requires investment in the peace security development nexus in order to eradicate the root causes of conflict and strengthen states’ abilities to respond and to act to risks. This is why we are convinced that thinking and reflection, rather, for the future needs to involve a broader vision, including different tools available to the UN, such as special political missions and regional presences, in order to ensure complementarity between action, reaction, and also to ensure that they all enjoy the necessary financial and political support. We’re also convinced that there’s no need to further reform PKOs. What we actually need is additional efforts to effectively implement existing mandates and resolve the determination of all stakeholders to fully play their role to ensure the effectiveness of peacekeeping. Madam President, Morocco remains committed to support peacekeeping efforts of the UN and has done so for decades. We’d like to reiterate, one, the Security Council must show United States that it is committed to supporting peacekeeping efforts of the UN. united front to show political unity, in particular when there is a weakening of desire seemingly for peace. Two, peacekeepings should not take upon themselves tasks that in any way run counter to peacekeeping. What is important for the Security Council is to focus more on defining the strategic objectives and to draft targeted implementable targets in conjunction with host countries as well as with TCCs and PCCs. Three, it is absolutely crucial for PKOs to enjoy necessary financial, human and logistical resources so that they can carry out the duties conferred upon them in the best conditions possible. Four, complementarity and coordination between the Security Council and the Peacebuilding Commission must also be bolstered. The Commission, its country configurations and the Peacebuilding Fund play a key role in strengthening integration between maintaining and building peace in order to assist efforts for economic recovery and capacity building based on national ownership. The Central African Republic configuration, chaired by Morocco, continues its good practice of sharing recommendations with the Security Council based on priorities to build peace in the CAR just on the eve of the renewal of each MINUSCA mandate. Fifth and finally, we are seeing an increasing regionalization of conflict and so there’s an urgent need to establish partnerships for peace and security with regional and sub-regional organizations. We need to recall that the maintenance of international peace and security exclusively is the purview of the Security Council. In conclusion, I’d like to say that we need to act with determination in all aspects of the peace continuum, namely conflict prevention, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding, whilst remaining united with our ultimate objective to implement political solutions for lasting peace. Thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of Morocco for this statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Chile. Gracias.

Chile:
Thank you, Madam President. We are grateful to Slovenia for this opportunity to participate in this open debate, and we wish you every success during your monthly presidency in this body. We take note of the briefings and the contributions we’ve heard today by the briefers. This debate enables us to renew our country’s commitment to peace operations across the board. We believe that various operations have proven that they are a useful instrument in reducing the intensity of conflicts, in promoting peace, and in facilitating the development of countries through the joint action by the United Nations and its programs. However, over the past five years, operations have seen a reduction in size and in deployment sites. In point of fact, these missions have had to face new challenges such as the pandemics, disinformation just to mention but a few. We call for unity in the Council in decisions which must be taken regarding peace and stability in states where peace missions are deployed. And here it is essential for parties in the conflict to turn to a united and determined body capable of responding to changes on the ground and provide avenues for dialogue. This can help contribute to legitimacy and support for such operations. President, as we have said on a number of occasions, Creating sequential mandates based on evidence on the ground is essential to strengthen peace operations. To do this, we need to have interaction between the military and political commands of missions with various local actors, including civil society and all of its diversity. This will ensure the establishment of sustainable and lasting peace. The Security Council must improve its commitment to local actors, to civil society organizations, to women’s groups and to youth organizations, to academics, journalists, and activists in general, so that their perspectives and experiences can be taken into account during the decision-making process. Along these lines, we underscore the role of women in peace operations. A number of studies and Secretary General reports have shown that the participation of women in the resolution of conflicts is beneficial because women increase the effectiveness of peacekeeping, they improve overall performance of these processes, as they have greater access to communities and they contribute to the promotion of human rights and the protection of civilians. And we encourage women to participate actively in the political and peace processes. All of this leads to conflict mitigation and a mitigation of clashes. Undoubtedly, women generate greater trust in women caring for victims of gender-based violence, and they are capable of improving access to and communication with women and girls. They become inspiring role models for other women and girls impacted by armed conflict to follow. The participation of women in mediation, negotiation, and signing of agreements in international peacekeeping is one of the key challenges for ensuring more democratic and inclusive policies, and one of the key pillars of Resolution 1325, which recognizes the key role of women. women’s participation in lasting peace building and our international commitment to gender equality. It is worthwhile pointing out that decisions about peace do not reflect the voices, realities and the rights of women, and such decisions, therefore, are not sustainable. The inclusion of women in these processes sheds light on the needs which have not been considered in the past. The gender provisions, therefore, have an enormous impact on the well-being of women who are impacted by such decisions. I would conclude by stressing that future operations are intrinsically linked to an effective and decisive Security Council open to dialogue, and that we should involve the voices of civil society in all its diversity. Thank you.

President:
I now give the floor to the representative of Indonesia.

Indonesia:
Thank you, President. I thank Slovenia for convening this meeting and the briefers for their insights. Peacekeeping is the hallmark of the United Nations. When Indonesians talk about the UN, the image of blue helmets always comes to mind. Being a major troops-contributing country, there is a sense of pride amongst Indonesians that we are contributing to global peace. Indeed, the legacy of UN peacekeeping is indisputable. Yet this legacy is being challenged from all fronts. Amidst rising expectations and expansion of mandates, resources and supports are diminishing. Peacekeeping is often subject to geopolitical power play taking place in this room. Some host countries are losing faith in the peacekeeping missions, often creating dangerous vacuums, risking further conflicts and relapse. This begs the question, what can be done to ensure UN peacekeeping remains effective? How to foster greater trust in peacekeeping? peacekeeping operation, how do we ensure sufficient resources, and how to adjust peacekeeping in the revolving global and regional architecture. In this context, allow me to highlight three points. First, realistic and achievable mandates through tailored approach is important. Devising realistic mandate hinge on the understanding of the specific needs and challenges. Partnership and collaboration with host authorities is key to enhance its effectiveness. Mandates should be forward-looking, incorporating space for transition strategy to be developed. This will enhance smooth transition to political solution, preventing relapse of conflict. Indonesia effectively promotes community engagement, which faithfully implement with our deployed peacekeeper. and local context will ensure mutual trust between peacekeepers and the host communities. Second, peacekeeping demands investment in expertise and resources. Investing in training and capacity building will ensure peacekeepers are equipped for challenges in complex environments. Peacekeeping technology enhances civilian protection and response to emerging threats by strengthening mission strategic communication. Indonesia also calls for predictable and sustainable financing, and we welcome the adoption of Resolution 2719 towards lasting peace in Africa. Third, advancing the role of women is fundamental. The future of peacekeeping will increasingly depend on women as an agent of peace for a resilient and sustainable future. We need to continue peacekeeping missions that are more conducive for women peacekeepers by providing support for their safety and well-being. President, without a fundamental shift in our approach, lasting peace remains elusive. Rest assured of Indonesia’s commitment to this end. Thank you.

President:
Thank you, Representative of Indonesia, for the statement. And I will now give the floor to the Representative of the Philippines.

Philippines:
Thank you, Madam President. Two years ago, President Ferdinand… Marcos, Jr., told the UN General Assembly that the UN must forge ahead with its flagship tradition of global peacekeeping. Indeed, for 76 years now, UN peacekeepers have provided security and the political and peacebuilding support to help countries make the difficult, early transition from conflict to peace. We recognize the service and sacrifice of Blue Helmets, past and present, and pay tribute to the resilience of the communities they serve, despite many obstacles to peace. It is therefore fitting that all member states of the United Nations must continue to come together in a collective effort to strengthen the effectiveness and resilience of peacekeeping operations, and deliberate on how the Security Council can do better to provide unified political support to peace operations in delivering on their mandates and ensure that they operate safely. The Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security under the United Nations Charter. It determines when and where a UN peace operation should be deployed. In the increasingly complex and evolving conflict environments around the world, the work of the Security Council in defining the mandate of peace operations is critical. A clear and streamlined mandate helps ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers and enables the implementation of measures to improve the preparedness and response of missions. The Council must continue to work with a wide range of stakeholders and partners in the international community, especially member states and host countries, as well as the Secretariat, based on agreed principles and political commitments to ensure that peacekeeping operations are fit for the future. Lessons drawn from the UN’s over seven decades of peacekeeping experience must be distilled. We must build on these insights from across the region. range of experience in transitioning from conflict to peace. Acknowledging the complex security environments in which our peacekeepers operate, let us take our cue from country-led and country-owned solutions, which are vital as are multi-partner joint initiatives in security concerns, such as the UN Joint Appeal for Counterterrorism in Africa. There must be streamlined and coordinated support from funding partners and UN entities. Today I reiterate the commitment of the Philippines to the cause of UN peacekeeping operations around the world and our readiness to increase our engagement in this flagship endeavor of the UN. For over six decades now, the Philippines has actively participated in UN peacekeeping operations around the world to contribute in collaborative endeavors to help make peace a reality. Since the Limba Squadron flew to the Congo in 1963, we have deployed over 14,000 Filipino peacemakers to 21 United Nations peacekeeping and special political missions in Africa, the Middle East, and the Asia Pacific. Filipino peacekeepers have played critical roles not just in peacekeeping but also in rebuilding communities, health care, and promoting human rights, especially in regions affected by climate change and complex geopolitical conflicts. We pledge to increase our contribution to UN peacekeeping operations around the world with more Filipino peacekeepers on the ground as our contribution to the maintenance of international peace and security, and in rebuilding communities scarred by conflicts. The Philippines will continue to deploy military and police personnel in any area, regardless of the security threat level. Our personnel will be following very strict standards of conduct and behavior in the performance of their peacekeeping duties. duties. The Philippines also commits to deploy more female peacekeepers in the future to enhance the holistic approach to peacekeeping operations. More skilled and trained female peacekeepers are vital to the success of peacekeeping operations. In this regard, we will continue to ensure that our pledges under the UN Peacekeeping Readiness System are met. Our government is committed to make available all necessary resources for peacekeeping operations within the agreed response time. Madam President, as a trusted partner, innovative pathfinder, and committed peacemaker, the Philippines will support all efforts to revitalize and further strengthen the effectiveness and resilience of UN peacekeeping operations for the benefit of present and future generations. With its wealth of experience in peacekeeping and peacebuilding, especially in Mindanao and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Southern Philippines, the Philippines is ready to represent the interests of peace-loving member states in the Security Council if elected as a non-permanent member for the period 2027 to 2028. We thank and request your support for our council candidature in this regard. In the council, we intend to constructively and concretely contribute in our collective efforts to forge a better future for all, where the rule of law, peace and security, fairness and justice govern our daily lives, where women and children are also active agents for peace and development. As President Marcos, Jr. declared, and I quote, no nation stands alone. The achievement of our national ambition requires a global environment that creates conditions that allow all nations, including ours, to thrive in peace. We need the United Nations to continue to work, and we, the Philippines, are determined to be part of that solution. Thank you, Madam President.

President:
I thank the representative of the Philippines for this statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Romania.

Romania:
Thank you very much, Madam President. I want to acknowledge this important focus of the Sovereign Presidency on Reflections for the Future of Peacekeeping Operations. And I think the input today of the briefers this morning was very much important, and we acknowledge that for the discussions ahead. I want to add a few points, as Romania, in addition to the statement delivered by the European Union. First and foremost, I want to pay our deepest respect to the UN peacekeeping personnel, the brave women and men who risked their lives for a better, more secure and peaceful international community, with a special tribute to the peacekeepers who have lost their lives or have been injured in the field. Madam President, peacekeeping has been traditionally the very fabric of the work of the United Nations. It is at the core of the peace and security pillar, and probably one of the most relevant tasks of the Security Council. And however, we noticed recently a decline in the peacekeeping activity through the drawdown and the ongoing withdrawal process of several missions, and that’s why this debate is very much important and reflecting on the future of the peacekeeping operations. From our point of view, peacekeeping operations remain vital in the context of growing tensions and increasing number of armed conflicts across the globe. Romania has been a committed contributor to peacekeeping since 1991. Romanian military and police capabilities have been deployed in some of the most challenging missions and currently present in five out of the 11 peacekeeping operations in the UN – UNMIS, MINUSCA, MONUSCO, UNMIC and UNBOCIP. Rule-of-law activities in peacekeeping contribute to restoring and maintaining security, protecting civilians and creating the conditions for sustainable peace. Romania is pleased to contribute with government-provided personnel to the corrections component of MINUSCA. In addition to personnel contribution, my government has also put forward opportunities for capacity building, provides trainers and facilitators. training courses organized by the Department of Peace Operations and is also organizing every year specific pre-deployment trainings. More specifically, with our pledge in support of capacity building in the field of peacekeeping, we have trained police officers in 34 countries on four continents. Madam President, there is no alternative to peacekeeping conflict situations. However, there is always room for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of this essential activity. We expect to have more in-depth exchanges in the following month on the UN Secretary General’s new agenda for peace. To that extent, increased ownership by the host nation is critical and regional support is welcome with full respect for the international law. My delegation advocates for increased cooperation in the field between UN peacekeeping missions and the International Criminal Court, which could only lead to more accountability for atrocity crimes and justice for the victims. Zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, abuse, and sexual harassment and increasing women participation in these operations in line with the women peace and security framework need to be factored in the planning and deployment processes. We invite member states to participate in this year high-level side event on women peace and security organized during the high-level week in couple of couple of weeks and even Romania is co-organizing with South Africa, Switzerland, and the United States. Madam President, we understand that a robust peacekeeping activity cannot can only be maintained through adequate and predictable financing, proper military systems and equipment, and well-trained personnel. It is our common responsibility as UN member states to find the appropriate solutions to address this changing environment. Thank you, Madam President.

President:
I thank the representative of Romania for her statement and I now give the floor to the representative of Italy.

Italy:
Madam President, thank you for convening today’s open debate. Italy aligns itself with the statement by the European Union. I would like to add the following remarks in its national capacity. One year ago, the new Agenda for Peace sent a clear message on the need to adapt UN peacekeeping to the current global security scenario. Success or failure of the strategic challenge of peacekeeping transition will depend on the strength of our commitment, the effectiveness of our collective effort, and the cohesion among the main stakeholders. To achieve this goal, we must work on two main levels of trust. The first track concerns the build-up of peacekeeping operations. Regional organizations must be involved in the decision-making process culminating in the adoption of the resolutions and mandates which they will implement. On this point, Italy acknowledges Africa’s significant and increasing contributions to international peace and security. The continent has demonstrated admirable courage, leadership, and ownership in addressing global challenges. We therefore welcome the landmark 2719 resolution on AU-led peace support operations. At the same time, the Peacebuilding Commission should have a central role in forging ties with local authorities and in building a network of peacebuilders and peacekeepers with the ultimate goal of providing the Security Council with targeted, effective advice. This will help the Security Council adopt mandates which can actually be implemented. The second track of trust concerns the implementation phase and the performance of peacekeepers. No matter what organization is called to execute a mandate, peacekeepers should receive top-level training before deployment. By stepping up and standardizing the performance of peacekeepers, we will strengthen the trust among the Security Council, the host countries, and all relevant stakeholders. Moreover, and most importantly, peacekeeping operations will be more effective in protecting civilians and shielding the most vulnerable groups from threats. While adaptation is critical, we have already some solid ground and best practices to build on. UNIFIL, for example, has built over the years a successful model based on respect for the local culture, impartiality, credibility and closeness to the civilian population, so becoming one of the most stable and successful UN peacekeeping missions. Italy believes that tailored training was a key determinant of this result, and therefore looks forward to share and offer such best practices for the sake of effective peacekeeping. Madam President, peace process does not end as soon as the last soldier leaves the ground. It is therefore essential to consider peacebuilding and peacekeeping as complementary. By fostering stability, dialogue and inclusivity, effective peacebuilding can play a critical role in breaking the cycles of underdevelopment, uneven growth, unfair politics and the risks of militarization. However, it is not a silver bullet. To effectively tackle these vicious cycles, peacebuilding must be accompanied by comprehensive policies in economics, governance and security. Together, along with sustainable development, they can bring sustainable peace. The UN system can count on Italy for the future of effective peacekeeping. I thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of Italy for their statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Guatemala.

Guatemala:
Madam President, we are grateful to the Republic of Slovenia for convening this debate, and we are also grateful to the briefers for their important contributions and for their efforts. The Republic of Guatemala places vital importance on this organization’s peacekeeping operations. It is a relevant instrument in international peace and security architecture. in PCC for peacekeeping over the past two decades, my country has witnessed their impact on the ground, particularly when the mandates are clear, viable, and explicit, are in line with host country priorities, and when they have sufficient staff and resources for the effective development and operations, and when their efforts are aimed at protecting civilians and ensuring lasting peace. We have seen the changes in peace operations, and we agree with the points made in the concept note that conflicts have also evolved, and they have become increasingly complex. There have also been increased risks of human rights violations, which my country firmly condemns. We therefore believe that the link between the human rights and peacekeeping agendas offers a unique strategy for changing the paradigm from a culture of crisis mitigation to a culture of prevention, particularly in the global context in which human rights tend to be infringed upon or undermined as a result of security approaches. We would urge this council to include the prevention and peacebuilding approach in its peacekeeping operations and mandates. Women provide unique perspectives and valuable skills which enrich the mission’s approach, and they improve the ability to address conflicts comprehensively. Their presence not only promotes equity and inclusion, but it also facilitates communication, and they help to build trust with local actors, particularly in the context where women and children are the primary victims of the conflict. Including women at all levels of peace operations is an essential strategy. order to achieve lasting and sustainable peace. We reaffirm our support for the implementation of the mental health strategy for United Nations uniformed personnel. We hope that a strengthening of peace operations will be carried out as well within the framework of the New Agenda for Peace and the Summit of the Future. We pay tribute to fallen soldiers working with the peacekeeping missions, and we condemn most firmly any act of violence against UN staff, and we believe that accountability is vital. Guatemala has paid the highest price as a TCC. We have lost peacekeepers in combat. We honor their memory, deploying staff which is highly trained and committed. They are prepared to carry out their mandate without reservation. We hope that the United Nations will soon adopt a zero-reservation policy so that we can ensure the highest level of performance in peace operations. Thank you, Madam.

President:
I thank the representative of Guatemala for the statement, and I give the floor to the representative of Panama.

Panama:
Thank you very much, Madam President. It is an honor for me to speak to you today in my first statement before this august body of the United Nations. On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Panama, I extend greetings to members of the Security Council, and I congratulate Sabrinia on assuming the presidency of this council and organizing this important open debate which has called on us to reflect on the future of UN peacekeeping and necessary actions to bolster those activities. I welcome the briefings provided as well. The Security Council plays a crucial role in responding to global threats which are a challenge to international peace and security. These threats have evolved significantly, and we are now addressing transnational issues such as terrorism, organized crime, trafficking in persons, drugs and weapons, and We are dealing as well with the impact of climate change. The consequences of these threats has a devastating impact on individuals, forcing them to flee their homes and to find safety in other places. This has led to a destabilization in entire regions and has exacerbated humanitarian crises. Panama has directly witnessed such a reality. There are thousands of migrants who are forced to leave their countries due to internal conflicts, due to economic precariousness, and due to natural disasters, and they cross our territory. This is an enormous challenge for countries of origin, transit, and destination, and we need to find a comprehensive response within the international community most urgently. In this context, UN peacekeeping operations have proven to be an essential tool. Peace missions not only work to stabilize countries in conflict, but they also play a crucial role in creating conditions conducive to a peaceful resolution of disputes, to rebuilding societies impacted by war, and by establishing a solid basis for peace. Given the challenges and the complexities which peace operations currently face, Panama believes it is essential, firstly, to design specific, achievable, and adaptable mandates which keep in mind realities on the ground, two, ensure adequate and sustainable financing for peace operations, both by the United Nations as well as by the African Union, a region where the majority of peace operations take place, three, promote the responsible and ethical use of new technologies to improve monitoring, security, and the management of peace operations, four, guarantee the full participation of women at all stages of peacekeeping. In this regard, the Summit of the Future also offers us a timely platform for bolstering our collective commitment to international peace and security and to improve our response to emerging threats. Madam President, Panama recognizes the sacrifice made by UN staff who have lost their lives in carrying out their duties. In tribute to this sacrifice, Panama is committed to finding innovative and effective solutions in order to bolster the United Nations peacekeeping operations. Thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of Panama for this statement. There are still a number of speakers remaining on my list for this meeting. I intend, with the concurrence of the members of the Security Council, to suspend the meeting until 3 p.m. The meeting is suspended. The 9,790th meeting of the Security Council is resumed. I wish to remind all speakers to limit their statements to no more than three minutes in order to enable the Council to carry out its work expeditiously. The flashing light on the microphone will prompt speakers to bring their remarks to a close after three minutes. I now give the floor to the representative of Ireland.

Ireland:
Thank you, President. We commend Slovenia for organising today’s debate on strengthening UN peacekeeping and its future, which provides a critical opportunity to reflect on how the global community can work together more effectively. Ireland has a longstanding commitment to UN peacekeeping. We recognise the challenges these missions face, particularly during transitions which are often complex and volatile. As a troop and police contributing country, Ireland remains actively engaged in peacekeeping and has consistently urged that mandates be clear, credible, realistic and are cognisant of operational capabilities. We see a need for focused attention on capacity building, sustainment, which includes mental health care of peacekeepers, security and developing partnerships. Furthermore, Ireland fully supports the UN efforts to expand its assistance for regional-led peacekeeping missions, including through the implementation of Resolution 2719. UN peacekeeping and special political missions are among the clearest expressions of the international community’s commitment to supporting countries on their pathway to peace. However, we know from real experience that gains can be fragile and easily reversed. For this reason, Ireland has prioritised the connection between peacekeeping and peacebuilding, and we will continue to champion this crucial link. We welcome the Secretary-General’s call to focus and to refocus on conflict prevention, which can ultimately reduce the need for peacekeeping. Ireland sees the review of the UN’s peacebuilding architecture as a very real opportunity to strengthen collective efforts for peace. We must also ensure the full implementation of Resolution 2594, which Ireland is pleased to have spearheaded during our most recent term on the Security Council. It is critical that when UN peacekeeping operations are drawn down, they do so in a manner that ensures protection of civilians and strengthens peacebuilding. Our focus must be on preserving the hard-won gains and ensuring that fragile societies do not regress into conflict. The recent decisions to reduce peacekeeping and special political missions with insufficient transition planning are deeply concerning. It is essential that any follow-up UN presence is adequately resourced to continue peacebuilding efforts and requires the ongoing attention with regard to planning and lessons learned at the Security Council. That is why it is essential that a dedicated transition planning capacity is permanently embedded within the UN system. These efforts are vital to ensuring peacekeeping missions are equipped to foster long-term peace and stability. In addition, Ireland is committed to the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, and we underline the need to build an operational environment to enable women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in peacekeeping missions. Mr. President, Irish participation in UN peacekeeping operations represents the longest unbroken record of any nation in the world. Ireland stands ready to work with all Member States and stakeholders to strengthen the UN’s capability, including transition planning, with the aim of ensuring lasting peace for future generations. Thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of Ireland for their statement and I invite, I give the floor to the representative of Greece.

Greece:
Mr. President, first of all I would like to congratulate you and Slovenia for organizing this very important open debate. We align our statements with the remarks delivered earlier by the European Union and we’d like to add the following on our national capacity. The world is facing old and emerging strategic risks, threats and challenges that are creating the conditions of increasing complexity and insecurity. Therefore it is necessary to strengthen existing and elaborate new tools to sustain peace through the entire peace continuum, from conflict prevention and identification of root causes to peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding. Among these tools, peacekeeping is undoubtedly for the last 76 years the most effective mechanism. It is indeed effective multilateralism in action, as the Secretary General eloquently mentioned in his new Agenda for Peace, in which he reiterated that peacekeeping operations are an essential part of the diplomatic toolbox of the Charter of the United Nations. We believe that the proposed three actions for the strengthening and adaptation of peacekeeping to the modern realities containing the new Agenda for Peace offer usual guidelines to answer some of the guiding questions in your concept note. Concerning the first actions of strengthening peace operation and partnerships, Greece subscribes to the recommendation that the Security Council should ensure that the primacy of politics remains a central element of peace operation. Moreover, we support the recommendation that the Security Council should ensure realistic mandates for peace operations. Indeed mandates must be clear, prioritized, achievable, sufficiently resourced and adapted to changing circumstances and political developments. In addition, we echo the recommendation of the Security Council and the General Assembly to reflect on adaptable and effective mission models while devising transition and exit strategies where appropriate. As regard the second question on addressing peace enforcement, we would encourage the Security Council to consider the recommendation where peace enforcement is required to authorize a multinational force or enforcement action. by regional and sub-regional organizations. Lastly, with respect to the third action of supporting to African Union and sub-regional peace support operations, my country, Greece, supports the Secretary-General’s call for a new generation of peace enforcement mission and counter-terrorist operations led by African partners with security mandate under Chapters 7 and 8 of the Charter, with guaranteed funding through assessed contributions. Of course, the recent Security Council Resolution 2719 of 2024 was a catalyst for ensuring adequate, predictable, and sustainable financing for African Union-led peace support operations mandated by the Security Council. As a troop-contributing country, Greece underlines the importance of a close coordination and engagement of the Council with host countries, neighboring countries, and troop and police contributing Council. Mr. President, in closing, as an incoming member of Security Council for 2025-2026, let me assure you that Greece is committed to work towards strengthening of political unity within the Council on the issue of peacekeeping. To this end, we favor the agreement on universal, comprehensive, and concrete principles that should apply to all peacekeeping operations while considering the particularities on every given situation. I thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of Greece for their statement, and I give the floor to the representative of Tunisia.

Tunisia:
Thank you, Mr. President. At the outset, I congratulate Slovenia on presiding over the Security Council for this month, and I thank the briefers. I thank you for choosing the topic of this session, given how important this is for maintaining international peace and security, especially in light of the current global situation where conflicts and hotspots are increasing with local, regional, and international implications. Despite UN efforts and the many sacrifices made by peacekeepers in different areas of conflict, it does appear that international peace and security are not in a better condition. Current and prolonged conflicts are continuing and worsening. We have new conflicts and new components of instability and escalation. This has led to an unprecedented rise in the number of victims forcibly displaced and refugees. This has led to tragic humanitarian situations and devastating economic and social impact. Therefore, we require enhancing UN peace operations to put an end to the situation, to protect civilians and to operationalize peaceful and political settlement processes. Mr. President, Tunisia is one of the troop contributing countries since the 1960s. Therefore, we call on enabling these operations to carry out their functions by putting in place clear mandates by taking into consideration the specificities of host countries to coordinate with host countries to provide them with the necessary funding and the necessary technical and logistical equipment to guarantee the safety of these missions and to enable these missions to face up to the potential risks while adapting to the changes in the political environment and the nature of conflicts that are becoming more convoluted and complicated. Given that maintaining international peace and security is the responsibility of everyone, once again, we reaffirm the need for a political will from all countries around the world to work together to guarantee the success of UN peacekeeping operations to share the burden and the responsibilities in order to guarantee an effective multilateralism. We also renew our support to the initiatives of the Secretary General in this regard, especially the new agenda for peace and the initiative of action for peacekeeping. And we call for implementing the objectives in the Declaration of Shared Commitments. Especially the eight themes of this declaration, they represent a clear roadmap to strengthen the effectiveness and role of these missions. This can only be achieved if we all work together, notably member states, the Security Council, the General Assembly, as well as donors and troop and police contributing countries and regional organizations. Mr. President, UN peacekeeping operations play an important role in building and achieving peace. However, we need prevention to prevent that these crises become conflicts. We believe that prevention is one of the most effective means to maintain peace and security, to save lives, to respect human rights, and reduce human suffering. Once again, we reaffirm the importance of the role of the Security Council and member states and regional organizations in this regard. We also reaffirm the importance of the role played by women and young people in prevention and in different stages of a peace process. In conclusion, we renew the commitment of Tunisia to continue to work effectively and to participate in all efforts and initiatives to strengthen international peace and security and to provide more momentum to UN peacekeeping operations. In this regard, I thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of Tunisia for their statement, and I give the floor to the representative of Peru.

Peru:
Thank you, Mr. President. Good afternoon, distinguished members of the Security Council. Many thanks indeed. Eleven years after I had the honor of being the permanent representative of my country to the United Nations, I once again sit in this chamber, accepting the kind invitation extended to me by the distinguished President of the Council. I’d like to take this opportunity to underscore and reiterate Peru’s commitment to building and keeping peace, as well as to the peaceful resolution of disputes and the principle of collective security. The primary duty of the Blue Helmet is to protect the civilian population. In theaters of operation, which are characterized by the proliferation of armed groups, the erosion of the rule of law, violent extremism, terrorism, exclusion, corruption, and impunity. Facing these challenges, the national goals of Peru when it comes to peacekeeping are in line with the recommendations made by the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, contained in its report on the 2024 session. That report was adopted unanimously at the 27th plenary meeting of the General Assembly, which was held on the 5th of June. As such, we underscore the need to support national authorities as they seek to provide responses, to protect vulnerable people, and to ensure the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women in processes, transitional processes, moving a country from conflict to peace. The historical practice of peacekeeping operations is growing ever richer because it’s taking into account the need to structure proposals, such as to guarantee resilience in areas previously affected by conflicts. With this in mind, we reiterate our support for and commitment to the implementation of the Secretary General’s new agenda for peace. We’re also committed to his initiative, Action for Peacekeeping Plus. Those two initiatives broach issues of common interest, such as the root causes of conflicts. These include the illicit export of resources, transnational crime and terrorism. In this regard, we believe that training personnel in detecting and deactivating improvised explosive devices to protect the civilian population is vital in view of the significant increase of their use by armed groups. The Government of Peru supports the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, as well as the implementation of the Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy 2018-2028. In recent years, we have been achieving and exceeding the UN’s goals in this regard for the deployment of military staff officers, as well as for the deployment of military observers, as well as for the deployment of military units. This is a commitment that we have been implementing both domestically and internationally. Mr. President, as things stand, more than 250 members of our armed forces and national police force are deployed in peacekeeping operations in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Abyei and Lebanon. They are discharging their duties with professionalism, bravery and dedication. Moreover, we have a rapid reaction force comprising 250 additional troops, which has the immediate capacity to be deployed whenever the United Nations so requires. Where this meeting is concerned, we underscore the importance of establishing networks for regional cooperation designed to promote collaboration when it comes to preparing, financing, equipping, deploying and maintaining operations in areas to which countries assign troops. The Department of Peace Operations has our unwavering support when it comes to information exchange regarding good practices and experience garnered, and indeed that was the goal of the first Latin American and Caribbean conference on UN peacekeeping operations that was held in September 2022 in my country, Peru. That was a model which we seek to replicate and roll out elsewhere in the world. I conclude by reaffirming Peru’s commitment to UNPKOs as we did 51 years ago. 51 years ago we deployed the first Peru battalion in the Golan Heights in the Sinai Peninsula. There we established the first Peruvian camp and that was called Pachacutec. Thank you for your attention.

President:
I thank the representative of Peru for their statement and I give the floor to the representative of Austria.

Austria:
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President, and please accept our best wishes for your presidency in September. Thank you for organizing this open debate on strengthening UN peacekeeping, a topic that’s very close to our hearts and which we believe concerns a core role and function of the United Nations. Let me also thank Under-Secretary General Jean-Pierre Lacroix for his statement and also thank IPI and Crisis Group for their briefings. We aligned ourselves with the statement of the European Union, but here are a few remarks in the Austrian national capacity. For Austria, it’s an honor to be a longstanding partner of UN peacekeeping. Over 100,000 Austrians served in UN-mandated peacekeeping operations. Today, we participate as troop and police contributors in five of the 11 UN peacekeeping missions. We do that because peacekeeping is as close to the heart, to the spirit, of the UN Charter as you can get. It’s about protecting civilians, preserving ceasefires. containing violence, and facilitating peace. It is the embodiment, in a way, of Article I of the UN Charter, to maintain international peace and security. Today, we find ourselves at a juncture with strategic threats and a political climate that is not always conducive to UN peacekeeping. The last mission was mandated 10 years ago. The number of operations and peacekeepers has declined. But make no mistake, that is normal fluctuation in UN engagement, reflecting great power interest or disinterest in using the UN for the maintenance of peace. Even today, more than 50,000 peacekeepers are in the field, protecting the vulnerable, maintaining peace, and there are ongoing discussions about new missions. So this debate on strengthening peacekeeping is spot-on, and it’s important for all of us, the wider membership, to participate. Our discussions have received increasing attention over the past years, not least in the run-up to the summit of the future, and for a good reason. Allow me three short observations in this regard. First, we must recognize the complex environments in which operations are deployed. Today, conflicts are protracted, politically fragmented, and exacerbated by geopolitical tensions. How do we then ensure robust, adaptable, and fully supported peace operations? The solution is not to abandon peacekeeping, but to recalibrate it. We must ensure the UN has a flexible menu of peacekeeping options, ranging from traditional large-scale operations to precisely targeted support missions. The UN must retain its leadership role, ensuring that when peace is threatened, the right tools and personnel are deployed swiftly and effectively. The UN Secretariat has decades of experience and expertise in this regard, but the Secretariat cannot do this alone, and that brings me to my second point. The Council must work hard to provide consistent support to the political solutions that accompany peace operations, without unified backing. their mandates, risks becoming hard to achieve. This affects the confidence of host states, local populations, and also our peacekeepers. We must ensure local buy-in and ownership, engaging host countries in mandate discussions, and ensuring missions are adequately equipped to succeed on the ground. One key element is to calibrate mandates so that peace operations contribute effectively to transitioning to peace-building and conflict prevention. Missions are no end in itself, but a core factor assisting the transformation from an unstable conflict to a stable situation of sustainable peace and prosperity, with peacekeepers providing on-the-ground help to the local population in this regard. Third, peacekeeping requires strengthened partnerships. Russia advocates for a new understanding of networked multilateralism in this regard. Cooperation between the UN and regional organizations, such as the African Union or the EU, is essential. Security Council Resolution 2719 is an important step in this direction. However, as we work with regional partners, we must ensure that these relationships are built on clear roles, on capacities and strategies. And assessments, regular exchanges, and well-defined responsibilities will enhance coordination and effectiveness. A recent study by a Security Council report that Austria commissioned offers key recommendations on strengthening the relationship between the Council and regional arrangements. So you should look it up and look into it. Mr. President, colleagues, with a view to the upcoming Summit of the Future and Beyond, Austria has two key recommendations. First, strengthened synergies between the UN and regional organizations is imperative. And it’s imperative that there are regular meetings with regional organizations on matters related to peace and security. That’s no meeting just for the sake of a meeting. It simply reflects the lessons learned that in order to achieve actual cooperation and real interaction between these with these organizations. We must nudge the UN and the regional organizations to meet regularly and coordinate better. Second, Austria strongly supports the envisaged review of all UN peace operations. This would provide the opportunity to build on the study for the peacekeeping ministerial next year and look at UN peace operations holistically across the whole peace continuum, from prevention and peacemaking to peacekeeping and peacebuilding. We must enter a new era of peacekeeping, one that is more targeted, flexible, and collaborative. As a candidate for the 2027-2028 Security Council, you can count on Austria to be a steadfast partner in all efforts to strengthen UN peacekeeping in upholding global peace and security. Thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of Austria for their statement, and I give the floor to the representative of Poland.

Poland:
Mr. President, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, I would like to thank Slovenia for organizing this well-timed debate and express our appreciation to Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Dr. Comfort Ero, and Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein for their briefings. We align ourselves with the statement delivered by the European Union and would like to raise some considerations in our national capacity. Poland for the first time deployed its Blue Helmets to UN missions over 50 years ago. Since then, a demonstration of our commitment to the values enshrined in the UN Charter and support to its international efforts aimed at global peace and security have only been increasing. Drawing from our own extensive experience in UN missions, including our current participation in UNIFIL and the presence of observers in other operations, we firmly believe that the peacekeeping must evolve and continuously adapt, including by incorporating advanced technology. intelligence capabilities, and innovative approaches to address challenges as they themselves evolve. We should aim for realistic goals and be laser-focused on the human aspects, as the protection of civilians stands in the core mission’s principles. Poland strongly supports partnerships and cooperation between the UN, regional and international organizations in the area of peacekeeping whenever it adds value. It includes the EU-UN Strategic Partnership in Crisis Management and Peace Operations, but also other key enablers with unique capacities, like NATO, whose members fund close to 70% of the UN peacekeeping budget. International communities’ joint efforts cannot be a beauty contest. They are a necessity dictated by efficiency and effectiveness. In that context, we look forward to the implementation of the Resolution 2719 on financing the African Union-led peace support operations. It aims at providing the EU with more and better capacity to respond to crises and conflicts. But it means also more responsibility. We need to be able to help the EU to shoulder this responsibility. We aspire to bequeath a safer world for future generations. Less than two weeks before the summit of the future, we welcome and expect implementations of ambitious commitments to youth, peace, and security. Mr. President, peacekeeping and peacebuilding are two sides of the same coin. Poland, as a member of the Peacebuilding Commission, believes that a more integrated approach is essential for sustainable peace. We strongly advocate for a more enhanced focus on peacebuilding. within the broader peacekeeping framework. We would like to reiterate our unwavering dedication towards the goals of peacekeeping. We perceive it as one of the core elements of our collective endeavours for protecting the people. And, whether we like it or not, often a necessary precondition to sustainable political conflict resolution. The world needs UN peacekeeping not any less than ever, possibly more. And through you, Mr President, I would appeal to the distinguished Council members to not forget about their responsibilities in light of the UN Charter. Lastly, I would like to honour those who paid the highest price to UN service, the peacekeepers. I thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of Poland for their statement. And now I give the floor to the representative of Latvia.

Latvia:
Mr President, members of the Security Council, I deliver this statement on behalf of the Nordic and Baltic countries, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, and my own country, Latvia. And we thank Slovenia for organising this open debate and the briefers for sharing their insights. At its inception, more than 75 years ago, UN peacekeeping was a result of a different political, security, and technological environment. Yet up to this day, UN peacekeeping remains the most visible expression of multilateralism and at the heart of the United Nations. The Nordic and Baltic countries continue to see UN peacekeeping as an essential tool for the maintenance of peace and security. Mr President, allow me to focus on three points. Firstly, flexibility, agility, and the primacy of political solutions are essential components for the future of peacekeeping. Mandates should be in line with an overarching political strategy, fitted to the specific context, and adequately resourced. Missions should correspond to the security aspirations of the local populations. Transition planning, in coordination with UN agencies, funds and programs, should from the outset be central to any peace operation, along with ongoing assessment and adjustment of mission structures, in order to ensure they remain fit for purpose. We must prevent scenarios where missions slowly become perceived as part of the problem, not the solution. The Security Council needs to maintain a dual focus on facilitating and supporting political solutions while also ensuring that peacebuilding is well integrated into the mandates of peacekeeping operations and adequately financed in line with the General Assembly’s Financing for Peacebuilding Resolution. Secondly, partnerships are paramount. The adoption of Security Council Resolution 2719 is a welcome step in the direction towards adequate, predictable, and sustainable financing for African Union peace operations. We call for further deliberations on implementation of this resolution in the next annual joint consultative meeting between the Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council. Enabling regional organizations also means enabling them to act in an accountable way as cohesive peacekeeping or peace enforcement providers. Lastly, it is essential to strengthen national and local capacities and resilience to build lasting peace. Robust security sector institutions, support to human rights, democratic governance, and rule of law are essential components of UN peace operations, in addition to powering local actors, in particular women and youth. Full, equal, and meaningful participation of women in peace processes and peace operations are paramount. The Peacebuilding Commission can provide strong support to countries in their capacity-building work. Furthermore, while welcoming the progress made over the past years, strategic communications of UN missions and their means to counter disinformation need to be strengthened further. This is particularly important in the advent of the AI. Mr President, we’re just a few weeks away from the summit of the future. We hope that the pact will foster concrete actions to adapt peace operations to the new realities, as well as strengthen conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts. And we’re also looking forward to the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin next year as the next milestone of these efforts. I thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of Latvia for their statement, and I give the floor to the representative of Spain.

Spain:
Mr President, President of the Security Council, members, Spain is grateful to the Presidency of Slovenia for organizing this open debate. It gives us an opportunity to contemplate the future of peacekeeping operations and to reaffirm the commitments of the organization and of all its members to ensure that these peacekeeping operations are best able to discharge their duties. PKOs are vital to guarantee and maintain international peace and security. They’re facing increasingly complex challenges, and they need to adapt to new realities to ensure that they are effective and that they can fully discharge their mandates. These mandates include protecting civilians as well as tackling the underlying causes of conflicts in line with the Secretary General’s new agenda for peace. Against that backdrop, Spain believes it is important to work on the prevention of conflicts through a holistic lens, paying particular attention to respect for human rights. Strengthening women’s participation in missions and streamlining a gender perspective into their design is vital. Spain prioritizes the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, and we actively participate in initiatives to strengthen gender perspectives in peace missions. By way of example, Spain organizes annually with the Ministry of Defence of the Netherlands a course entitled A Comprehensive Approach to gender in peacekeeping operations. That course has trained more than 1,000 students from 50 nationalities. They’re now qualified to be gender advisors in peacekeeping operations pursuant to Resolution 1325. Peacekeeping operations, as they look to the future, must ensure they cooperate better and that there is better cooperation between the UN and regional organizations, particularly the African Union. These organizations play a decisive role when it comes to tackling some of the most difficult challenges to global stability. The Security Council Resolution of December 2023 on the financing of peacekeeping operations led by the AU is a step in the right direction. It will shape peacekeeping operations in the coming years. As such, we will follow closely how it is implemented and how it plays out. These operations must receive predictable, adequate, sustainable, and inclusive financing and uphold UN and AU provisions, including when it comes to complying with international humanitarian law and human rights. Mr. President, the Security Council is responsible for maintaining peace. As such, we value the efforts that this body makes to achieve consensus when it comes to renewing the mandate of peacekeeping missions. The most recent mandate renewal was the unanimous adoption of the mandate for UNIFIL. That unanimous adoption for its renewal led out a message of robust support for PKOs on the part of the Security Council. Spain is proud of its contributions to PKOs, proof of, and that is indeed a priority, a demonstration rather of the priority that we attach to preventing and resolving conflicts. UNIFIL is the mission with the largest number of Spanish troops. The Lieutenant General, the Spanish Lieutenant General Lázaro is leading that mission and it has more than 10,000 troops from 50 countries. It operates in a very complex environment and seeks to reduce tensions on both sides of the blue line, particularly following the Hamas attacks of the 7th of July. of October and the outbreak of the war in Gaza. UNIFIL’s experience, as well as that in other contexts, demonstrate that PKOs must have the support of the local population. They must also have the support of the parties to the conflict. It’s also important, as UNIFIL has shown, to ensure that initially interim operations can endure over time if necessary. UNIFIL has also made it clear that PKOs cannot make up for a lack of will on the part of the parties when it comes to implementing political agreements. To conclude, the Summit of the Future will provide us with an opportunity to discuss approaches to peacekeeping operations, addressing prevention, strengthening the role of women and young people, and the growing importance of technology in peacekeeping. We hope that the Pact of the Future includes the Secretary General’s mandates to review the PKOs. It is necessary to think about the current status of PKOs, their needs to adapt, and their requirements, such that we can produce a series of recommendations. Thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of Spain for their statement, and I give the floor to the representative of Uruguay.

Uruguay:
Mr. President, Uruguay is grateful to the President of Slovenia for convening this open debate and for allowing non-members of the Security Council to attend. This is an issue of particular relevance, that is strengthening peacekeeping operations. This is an opportunity also to strengthen and support peacekeeping operations. However, it’s also an opportunity to express our concern at certain trends which might ultimately weaken peacekeeping operations. We’re grateful for the presence of Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary General for Peace Operations and Civil Society. Representatives Dr. Comfort Ero, President of the, Executive Officer rather, of the International Crisis Group, and Mr. Zeid Al Hussein, President and Chief Executive Officer of the International Peace Institute. This debate is particularly important for Uruguay as a troop-contributing country to peacekeeping operations. Our country’s peaceful vocation has been demonstrated domestically, but also through the fact that. we’ve deployed troops to several missions throughout the world. Since 1948, U.N. operations have been a fundamental pillar of collective efforts to maintain international peace and security. This dynamic mechanism has evolved over time and has adapted to the changing nature of conflicts. However, there are emerging challenges, and as such, peace operations must continue to tailor their work to new realities to guarantee that they can be effective, including protecting civilians. This cannot be achieved without the full, equal, and significant, or meaningful, rather, participation of women. And a gender-sensitive approach must be adopted at all stages of peace operations. Today, we’d like to share a few thoughts about the 25 years that have elapsed since the adoption of Security Council Resolution 1270. There, for the first time, a peacekeeping operation was given a specific mandate to protect civilians from violence. Over the years, the protection of civilians has become a key goal of peace operations, with more than 95% of blue helmets deployed under that specific mandate. This is not only a policy, but rather a criterion used to measure the whole of the U.N.’s performance. It’s used both by local populations and by the international community. In spite of challenges, U.N. peacekeeping operations have proven their effectiveness in reducing violence against civilians, as well as in preventing displacements and in strengthening local mediation mechanisms. These achievements, including in the absence of immediate political solutions, demonstrate the tangible impact that these operations have on peacekeeping. We must guarantee that we are able to review and adapt peacekeeping operations so that they can address future challenges. Indeed, the protection of civilians remains a strategic, central and enduring goal. To this end, the Security Council must further strengthen peace operations and increase their commitment to regional stakeholders and organizations. Regional organizations such as the African Union have critical knowledge about local dynamics and can serve as key advisors of the Council. They can inform the Council of the situation on the ground and identify stakeholders with whom interaction would be beneficial. The recent Security Council Resolution 2719 on financing of peace support operations led by the African Union offers an opportunity to underscore protection of civilians as a priority in such partnerships. It’s also vital that the Security Council foster political unity, particularly when it comes to defining clear goals and to prioritizing aspects of peacekeeping mandates. When we design peacekeeping mandates, we must strike a balance between respecting the Council’s prerogatives, listening to the voices of national authorities and those of civilian populations. The prospects and aspirations of these people must guide the implementation of peacekeeping operations. That will ensure that missions are not only effective but also well received by those they seek to protect. Another key aspect of strengthening peace operations is to guarantee that they remain person-focused and that they remain inclusive and aligned with the WPS agenda. The meaningful participation of women and young people in peace processes is not only a matter of justice, but it also improves the legitimacy and sustainability of peacekeeping efforts. Including women in peacekeeping operations brings different perspectives to the table as well as innovative solutions to complex conflicts. Uruguay is committed to deepening international discussions on future peace operations. In December, Uruguay and Japan, together with the Department of Peace Operations, will hold in Montevideo a preparatory meeting for the ministerial meeting on peacekeeping 2025, that meeting will be a key opportunity to reflect on how we can collectively strengthen peacekeeping operations in the face of present and future challenges. To conclude, Uruguay reaffirms its commitment to UN peacekeeping. Consequently, we must guarantee that peace and peacekeeping remain a powerful tool to safeguard peace, security, and human dignity. Indeed, as such, in our view, we must remain alert to trends which seek to limit the use of peacekeeping operations, and we must be alert to those trends that seek to hastily end currently existing peacekeeping missions. Experience has taught us that the withdrawal of a peacekeeping force from a situation of conflict has on more than one occasion led to the worsening in situations where forces were deployed. Thank you very much.

President:
I thank the representative of Uruguay for their statement, and I give the floor to the representative of Croatia.

Croatia:
Thank you, Mr. President. Croatia aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union on behalf of its member states, and I would like to add some remarks in my national capacity. Mr. President, I thank you for organizing this meeting, which is very much needed to discuss the future of peacekeeping in the current geopolitical situation and in the context of the upcoming Summit of the Future and the Pact for the Future, where we must aim for the highest ambition, including in peacekeeping. The United Nations peacekeeping has been a cornerstone of international efforts to maintain peace and security since its inception. However, the evolving nature of global conflicts and emerging challenges necessitate adequate reimagining of peacekeeping. to ensure it remains effective and relevant and fit for purpose. Strengthening UN peacekeeping for the future requires a multifaceted approach that addresses the complexities of modern conflicts, emphasizes prevention, and fosters collaboration among diverse stakeholders. In this regard, allow me to share three key points from the perspective of my delegation for strengthening UN peacekeeping for the future. One, to adapt to challenging conflict environments that often involve non-state actors, cyber threats, and asymmetric warfare. Peacekeeping missions must adapt by incorporating and making use of advanced technologies, enhancing intelligence capabilities, and improving rapid response mechanisms. Two, strict adherence to accountability and transparency standards is essential for UN peacekeeping. This involves robust mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating peacekeeping missions to maintain their credibility, effectiveness, and integrity, and to ensure they do not compromise their most important task of protecting civilians. And three, and perhaps most importantly, the UN’s approach to peacekeeping would greatly benefit from prioritizing prevention and sustaining peace rather than merely responding to conflicts. This involves early engagement and transition process with the host country to establish early warning systems and address root causes of conflict. They should also be assisted by other bodies in this regard. The Peacebuilding Commission should play a central role both with the structural and operational prevention. Structural prevention should support development and implementation of national prevention strategies and be a forum for their presentation to share experiences and lessons learned, but also to mobilize financial assistance. Operational prevention could be implemented through light footprint civilian missions addressing root causes of conflict that will be deployed upon invitation from the host country. to assist transition from peacekeeping to peacebuilding and thus work closely with peacekeeping missions and resident-coordinated offices. I thank you, Mr. President.

President:
I thank the representative of Croatia for their statement, and I especially thank him for staying within the three-minute timeline, which is a rare sight today. So with that, I also want to appeal on the speakers to try to stay within the three-minute slot so that we can accommodate as many speakers as possible. I now give the floor to the representative of the United Arab Emirates.

United Arab Emirates:
Mr. President, I’d like to thank Slovenia for organizing this open debate. I also thank Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Dr. Comfort Ero, and Mr. Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein for their briefings. Mr. President, as the nature of conflict evolves, we must develop innovative and sustainable solutions to address both traditional and unconventional threats. In this regard, the United Arab Emirates would like to highlight four points. Successful UN peacekeeping operations require effective multilateral cooperation. By sharing expertise and resources and maintaining a united front, key stakeholders in peacekeeping operations can more effectively prevent and resolve conflict. The UAE values collaborative partnerships that ensure our collective peacekeeping endeavors are coordinated and impactful, such as the 2024 UN Chiefs of Police Summit, which we sponsored this past June, as well as an upcoming Strategic Performance Workshop to be held in Abu Dhabi next month. Second, the participation of women in UN peacekeeping operations is crucial for the success of these missions. Women peacekeepers play an important role in strengthening society’s resilience and fostering trust, both necessary for security and stability. To promote their full, equal, and meaningful participation, peacekeeping missions must create inclusive environments. In this regard, the UAE highlights the importance of supporting the implementation of the Secretary-General’s Uniform Gender Parity Strategy through practical initiatives such as a forthcoming Global Workshop on Women, Peace, and Security in Police Peacekeeping to be hosted in Abu Dhabi this December. Third, UN peacekeeping operations must be accountable if they are to be credible and effective. UN peacekeepers deserve our gratitude for the vital and challenging role they play, but we must also expect the highest level of performance and ethics. This includes acting responsibly towards host countries and their populations, both in conduct and discipline. UN personnel who violate the noble responsibility entrusted to them must be held accountable. This will promote transparency, deter violations of international law and national laws, and reinforce the UN’s responsibility and commitment to protect civilians. Finally, the international community must continue developing its approach to confronting hate speech, extremism, and the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation. These fuel conflicts and threaten the safety and security of UN peacekeepers, as acknowledged by the Security Council Resolution in Resolution 2686. We underscore the need to implement this resolution, which requests that UN peacekeeping and political missions monitor hate speech, racism, and extremism, and that they include information about these issues in their reporting to the Council. A better understanding of these threats is crucial to countering them. We anticipate that peacekeeping will be an important topic at the upcoming Summit of the Future, and we look forward to advancing this important agenda. Thank you, Mr. President. I thank the representative of the United Arab Emirates for their statement, and I give the floor to the representative of Germany. Thank you, Mr. President.

Germany:
Germany aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union. I would like to thank Slovenia for organizing this timely debate and the briefers for their valuable insights. Mr. President, every single day, peacekeepers monitor ceasefires and protect the lives of hundreds of thousands of civilians. I want to acknowledge the profound commitment and personal sacrifices of the women and men serving in UN peacekeeping missions. Embedded in a political strategy, adequately resourced and mandated, UN peacekeeping is one of the most effective and sustainable tools that we can imagine. In order to succeed, peacekeeping missions depend on a united Security Council. Also, peacekeeping reform must continue and must be implemented in line with the Action for Peacekeeping A4P plus initiatives. Three aspects are crucial. First, Security Council mandates need to pursue clear and realistic objectives. Exit strategies must be explored and, wherever possible, enshrined in mission mandates. Missions need to be enabled to address a variety of challenges, such as mis- and disinformation- and hate speech, transnational organized crime, or the climate crisis. Second, the Security Council must ensure that peace operations are more integrated and draw on the comprehensive peacekeeping, peacebuilding, and conflict prevention toolkit. Close cooperation and clear division of labor between peace operations and UN country teams is key. Third, in order to gain and maintain legitimacy and better protect civilians, the Security Council might consider new types of mandates, capabilities, and mission models, while maintaining existing normative frameworks, for instance, the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda. Regional approaches, for example, with regard to Africa, through Security Council Resolution 2719, need to be strengthened. Mr. President, Germany, as a troop and police contributing country and the largest supporter of UN peacekeeping projects, is honored to host the next UN peacekeeping ministerial in Berlin on May 13th and 14th, 2025. We aim at continuing the political reflection about the future of peacekeeping and want to generate substantial pledges to address existing gaps. On the road to the Berlin ministerial, we look forward to further substantial debates, in particular at the upcoming preparatory meetings. Let us make UN peacekeeping fit for the future. I thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of Germany for their statement and I give the floor to the representative of Portugal.

Portugal:
Thank you, Mr. President, Excellencies. We commend – I start commending Slovenia for convening this timely and important debate and also a word of gratitude to the USG La Croix for its tireless efforts in this area. Portugal has been and will continue to be a strong supporter of UN peacekeeping missions. Last year, we celebrated 65 years of participation in such missions. Over that period, we have contributed with over 20,000 troops and police personnel to the most diverse geographies. However, UN peacekeeping is not a static tool and it must be shaped according to the evolving circumstances. Peacekeeping has a central role to play within the UN peace and security architecture, but it is no secret that today it is under significant pressure. Peacekeeping needs to be made more effective, more agile, and more fit for purpose in an ever more challenging environment. Portugal believes that the new agenda for peace points us in the right direction. First, we must adopt a more holistic and more realistic approach. Peacekeeping needs to be adapted to the different stages. of the peace continuum, the Council should be able to act from preventing conflicts to supporting countries in post-conflict settings and adapt mandates accordingly. We thus need realistic mandates that have clear goals and timelines. In this context, cooperation between this Council and the Peacebuilding Commission also has room to grow, contributing to conflict prevention and avoiding conflict recurrence. A moralistic and realistic approach also means integrating new challenges such as the climate security nexus or the technology security nexus in the mandates of peacekeeping missions. Second, we need an increasingly cooperative approach, engaging host countries, neighboring countries, and troop-contributing countries. Listening to the communities affected by conflict, consulting with stakeholders, and involving women and youth are essential factors to increase ownership and accountability, as well as to ensure the viability of the objectives. Working hand-in-hand with regional organizations, but also with the private sector, academia, and scientific community is key for sustainability of solutions. Third, we must think outside the box. The 2719 on the financing of African Union-led peace support operations and the multinational security support mission in Haiti present creative solutions that can offer a complement to traditional peacekeeping operations. Fourth, there is no effective peacekeeping without an effective Security Council. Without a strong political backing from the 15 of this Council, operations will be weakened in their guidance, in their drive, and in their authority. Strengthening the Council leadership and unity is an indispensable corollary of the debate we are having today. If elected to Security Council in 2728, Portugal will assume its responsibilities and play a constructive role in this. A sensible resource to veto in strict adherence to the UN Charter and privileging the concrete interests of concerned countries and protection of civility of a rhetoric of principle are needed to ensure continual legitimacy of the Council and public support to the UN peacekeeping operations. Fifth and last, the United Nations’ credibility, role and added value in peace and security also depends on its ability to convince partners of the added value of such missions, which should not be withdrawn too vastly, but rather remain in the field as long as necessary to comply with their objectives in order to be reliable and sustainable. Mr. President, we remain committed to contributing substantively to this debate. This is also why we look forward to the open debate to be held during the High-Level Week on Leadership for Peace. Thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of Portugal for their statement. I give the floor now to the representative of India.

India:
Mr. President, I would like to congratulate Slovenia for the presidency of the Security Council. I also thank Slovenia for organizing this important meeting on UN peacekeeping and briefers for their useful insights. UN peacekeeping is an important tool available to the Security Council for maintaining international peace and security. Since 1948, peacekeeping missions have contributed significantly to UN-led peace efforts despite inherent limitations. Peacekeeping success stories clearly outweigh setbacks and failures. UN peacekeeping is currently faced with unique challenges. The presence of non-state actors, armed groups, terrorists and organized crime networks have changed the nature of conflicts, particularly in Africa. While some of the challenges relate to specific operational situations on the ground, the others could be more systemic in nature. Many of these relate to how the peacekeeping mandates are defined by the UN Security Council. and whether adequate resources are made available for an effective conduct of such operations. It’s important for major troop-contributing countries to be actively involved in the decision-making process, which would help in addressing many of these challenges that arise due to lack of clarity in the mandates and make the deployment more efficient. The mandates have to take into cognizance the requirement of host countries in their endeavor to find lasting solutions. Experience has shown that multilateral solutions driven by regional partnerships can positively contribute to the efforts. There are other issues such as the need for an effective mission communication strategy, coordination with host governments to counter disinformation, and enhance the safety and security of the peacekeepers themselves. In recent years, peacekeepers have experienced a greater level of asymmetric threats ranging from landmines to IEDs. We must ensure that peacekeepers are equipped with a view to enhance their performance while guaranteeing their safety and security. Technology and innovation are critical to enhance efficiency. National ownership is also important in peacekeeping and peacebuilding activities and critical for the success of our field missions. Lasting solutions can be achieved only by building capacities and political empowerment. There is also the need to strengthen the capabilities of the security forces of the host countries through provision of training and logistical support. The lack of political unity in the Security Council, often witnessed in recent years, has negatively impacted UN peacekeeping. The Security Council needs to be more representative of today’s realities, particularly in the permanent category. Given that more than half of the Security Council’s work is focused on Africa, India has been consistently calling for greater representation of Africa in line with the Azulvini Consensus and the Serta Declaration. The Council should also consider authorizing African Union-led peace support operations. Chair, India is the largest cumulative contributor to peacekeeping, having deployed more than a quarter million troops in more than 50 missions over the last seven decades. 182 Indian peacekeepers have made the supreme sacrifice while upholding the cause of international peace and security. It is now time to move forward with the establishment of a suitable memorial wall for the more than 4,000 peacekeepers who have made the supreme sacrifice. I conclude by reiterating our full commitment to UN peacekeeping operations. Thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of India for their statement and I give the floor to the representative of Jordan.

Jordan:
Mr. President, at the outset, I would like to congratulate Slovenia on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for this month. We wish you all the success in steering the works of the Council. I also thank you for convening today’s debate on strengthening UN peacekeeping operations. I also thank the Under-Secretary-General, Mr. Lacroix, and the chairs of the International Conflicts Group, Ms. Ero, and His Highness Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, President of the International Peace Institute, for their valuable contributions. Mr. President, for decades, Jordan was keen on participating in UN peacekeeping operations in various regions of the world. It has contributed 120,000 individuals, officers, and observers in various operations. These contributions stem from Jordan’s belief in the pivotal role played by these operations in restoring and promoting peace, in ending conflicts, and protecting civilians. Jordan lost several martyrs and made immense sacrifices during its participation in these operations. Jordan expresses its deep concern over the dwindling role of UN peacekeeping operations in recent years in various conflict zones. This has negatively impacted the opportunities to achieve peace and end conflicts in these regions. It is important to recall that the main pillar of the United Nations is maintaining international peace and security. It is the organization’s raison d’etre. We cannot relinquish this role and weaken the peacekeeping mechanisms as a result of the organization’s inability to play its main role. It cannot be achieved and human rights cannot be promoted without ending conflicts and achieving peace. Therefore, Jordan calls upon the Security Council and the General Assembly to provide political and financial support for these operations. The Council needs to put aside its internal political differences to guarantee the success of these operations. We appreciate the important role played by regional organizations in peacekeeping. Their role, however, should be supportive and does not replace the role of the United Nations in achieving and maintaining peace. Mr. President, among the main reasons for the failure of several peacekeeping operations, we mentioned the lack of clarity in their mandate and the lack of the necessary support to implement the missions of these operations. These missions are falling in the cycle of conflict management with a lack of clear objective and a targeted strategy to achieve peace in conflict zones. The Security Council should, when it establishes any peacekeeping operation, to provide it with a clear mandate based on a transparent assessment from the Secretary General on how to implement that mandate based on implementable outcomes and also based on specific timelines. and based on mechanisms that would allow to achieve peace in the relevant conflict zones. At the same time, peacekeeping operations should have the needed flexibility and also the support it needs to address the challenges facing it in line with its mandate and international law, especially when it comes to protecting civilians and to addressing the assaults waged by armed groups and cross-border threats. We also emphasize the need for the Security Council and the Secretariat to work on curbing the threats affecting the safety and security of peacekeeping missions and to make sure that the perpetrators of any attacks against the Blue Helmets are being held accountable. In conclusion, we emphasize the importance of coordinating with host countries whenever possible in implementing the mandate and limiting tensions and threats facing UN forces. Thank you, President.

President:
I thank the representative of Jordan for their statement, and I give the floor to the representative of Czechia.

Czechia:
Well, thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, first of all, let me thank the Slovenian Presidency of the Security Council for hosting this important and timely debate. Czechia remains steadfast in its commitment to UN peacekeeping operations. We are deeply grateful for the chance to contribute to this critical debate, which is at the heart of our shared mission to maintain and strengthen global peace and security. We firmly believe that successful UN peacekeeping is inextricably linked to cooperation with regional organizations. Partnerships with the African Union, the EU, and others are crucial for ensuring political support and enabling peacekeeping missions to function effectively on the ground. By deepening this cooperation and engaging In joint planning, we can achieve tangible results where it matters most. We are of the strong opinion that peacekeeping mandates must be adaptable to each region’s unique needs and context. This requires not just listening more closely to host country governments, but also to local communities and civil society. Only then we can truly understand the challenges people face in conflict zones and provide them with genuine assistance and security. Mr. President, effective communication is the cornerstone of successful peacekeeping. It is vital not just globally, but especially with local populations, organizations and peacekeeping personnel. Even high-quality communication is key to countering misinformation and disinformation that often erode trust in peacekeeping missions. Regular dialogue and direct engagement with local communities has the potential to positively affect the country’s internal stability by promoting democratic progress and the durability of peace. By focusing on solutions rather than problems, we can craft mandates that reflect each region’s needs and deliver concrete results. Effective communication in turn ensures support both on the global stage and among the local populations we aim to protect. And by extension, this is how to better protect our own peacekeepers. Mr. President, we value this opportunity to engage in dialogue on establishing appropriate mandates and combating misinformation. Although Czechia is not currently a major peacekeeping contributor, in contrast to our substantial involvement in the Balkans during the 1990s, we are actively exploring ways to increase our participation. We stand ready to support any initiatives that will lead to more robust and successful UN peacekeeping operations. I thank you, Mr. President.

President:
I thank the representatives of Czechia for their statement, and I give the floor to the representative of South Africa.

South Africa:
Thank you, Mr. President. South Africa congratulates the Republic of Slovenia on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for the month of September. We also appreciate the convening of this open debate on peacekeeping, which has proven to be one of the UN’s most important multilateral tools for promoting and maintaining international peace and security. We also thank our briefers for their perspective that they shared with us this morning. Our continued discussion on the future of peacekeeping is vital, as UN peacekeeping operations are compounded by complex and multidimensional challenges ranging from geopolitical tensions, protected armed conflicts with no end in sight, diverse belligerence, including terrorist organizations, transnational cross-border conflicts, emerging threats such as the misuse of new technologies, and pandemics. Further, the peacekeeping operations are expected to do more with less. It is for this reason, Mr. President, that South Africa would like to provide its views on areas of improvement as we reflect on the future of peacekeeping. First, the UN and its member states must undertake robust advocacy for UN peacekeeping as a relevant and viable tool for promoting peace and security. We are saying this because of the spread of misinformation and disinformation that discredits the impact of peacekeeping. and efficacy of UN peacekeeping. It is also prudent for the UN to enhance its relations with host countries in order to manage expectations, avoid misunderstandings and hasty withdrawals that tarnish the image of this important enterprise and endanger the safety and security of peacekeepers. Second, managing expectations depends primarily on the scope of mandate of peacekeeping operations. Regrettably, while expectations are sometimes exaggerated, most mandates of multidimensional peacekeeping operations on the African continent lack strategic focus and are inadequately resourced. In some instances, the mandates are not congruent with the situation on the ground. We reiterate that the Security Council must ensure that mandates of peacekeeping operations are realistic, achievable, focused and unambiguous. And for its part, the Fifth Committee must ensure that the peacekeeping budget matches these mandates. Third, the UN must continue to strengthen its partnership with regional arrangements in line with Chapter 8 of the UN Charter. As recognized by many studies, including the SG’s policy brief on a new agenda for peace, regional organizations, particularly in Africa, are undertaking peace enforcement and counterterrorism operations as part of maintaining international peace and security. And for this reason, the UN must support these operations. In this regard, we welcome the adoption of Resolution 2719 as a positive step towards securing adequate, predictable, and sustainable financing of African-led peace support operations authorized by the Security Council. And we urge for the implementation of this seminal resolution. Fourth, being fully aware of our global and regional commitments to contribute towards the maintenance of peace and security, South Africa continues to selflessly deploy troops and police to UN and SADC peace support operations. Our troops deployed in SAMI DRC have been subjected to unwarranted attacks, due in part to a lack of requisite support for this regional force during its early deployment phase. It is essential that the efforts we take with limited resources in the name of global peace and security are visibly supported with the necessary means and at the right time. Although an ad hoc arrangement, we thank the Security Council for responding positively to the request from SADC for logistical and operational support to SAMI DRC with the adoption of Resolution 2746. We hope that a standard mechanism will be put in place to address such requests from sub-regional arrangements in future. Fifth and lastly, we support a transformative agenda in peacekeeping that involves the meaningful participation of women in UN peacekeeping operations. Currently, women constitute only 7% of uniformed personnel and are primarily in less prominent roles. We need to add agency in creating opportunities for more women in peacekeeping operations. We reiterate our support for initiatives such as the UN Uniform Gender Parity Strategy, aimed at promoting the role of women in peace support operations. As part of efforts to promote women in peace support operations, South Africa will, together with SADC and the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance, convene a regional seminar on the role of women in future peacekeeping operations this November 2024. We also look forward, with keen interest, to the launch of the reports on women in defence and the report of the future of peacekeeping operations. The successes of peacekeeping operations, whether in the past, current, and in the future, depends on the leadership, political will, and collective action of relevant actors to the conflict. And it is within this context that we underline our support for the purposes and objectives of the Action for Peacekeeping Initiative and all its eight thematic areas, which should continue to guide peacekeeping reforms. To conclude, Mr. President, ultimately, all UN peacekeeping operations are deployed to support political processes, the peaceful settlement of conflict between concerned parties. Therefore, collective action of relevant national, regional, and international partners working to end the conflict is a must, rather than an option, if peacekeeping is to be successful. I thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of South Africa for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Vietnam.

Viet Nam:
Mr. President, I thank Slovenia for convening this open debate. In today’s unsettling world, characterized by prolonged armed conflicts and emerging security hotspots, peacekeeping remains a crucial tool for the UN to maintain international peace and security. As UN peacekeeping operations are faced with increasingly complex challenges, and in the context of a new agenda for peace and the summit of the future, I wish to highlight the following points. First, Vietnam is supportive of all efforts to make UN peacekeeping operations more nimble and adaptable, with clear and achievable mandates, predictable transitions and exit strategies, as well as adequate resources. In devising suitable peacekeeping models for specific situations and circumstances, the Security Council needs to work in close coordination with the host nations, as well as the troops and police-contributing countries. Second, strengthening cooperation with regional organizations is key to the UN’s effort to build a truly global partnership for peacekeeping, in line with the inclusive and networked multilateralism approach. In this regard, we are pleased to see the collaboration between the UN and ASEAN in peace operations under the Plan of Action on Comprehensive Partnership for 2021-2025. Third, in the wake of increased peacekeeping casualties, more effective measures are needed to prevent the malicious acts aimed at peacekeeping forces and facilities, and address other causes of fatality and injury. It is critical to strengthen the mission’s capacity to better protect peacekeepers’ physical and mental health. It is also imperative for peacekeeping missions to engage in good faith and build confidence with the host authorities and local communities. Enhanced mutual trust and understanding would help reduce the risks of hostilities toward peacekeepers on the ground. Fourth, Vietnam is a keen supporter of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, and is among the troops and police-contributing countries. with a higher than average ratio of women peacekeepers and still aiming at higher target 18% for unit and 20% for individual deployment by 2025. We call for greater efforts to create more enabling, safe and secure working conditions to further facilitate the participation of women in UN peacekeeping. More effective measures are also needed to address all forms of violence targeted at women peacekeepers and to protect them from gender-biased safety and security threats. Mr. President, Vietnam is a proud contributor to the UN peacekeeping activities over the past 10 years, with more than 800 Vietnamese peacekeepers deployed to various missions and is actively preparing for deployment of the first formed police unit. We are committed to supporting the UN peacekeeping operations and look forward to working with relevant UN bodies and member states towards achieving their mandates. I thank you, Mr. President.

President:
I thank the representative of Vietnam for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Australia.

Australia:
I thank Slovenia as President for convening this important open debate. For over 75 years, UN peace operations have made an indispensable contribution to peace. But peacekeeping is not static. Just as UN peacekeeping has evolved in the past, now is the time to adapt for the future. New threats, targeted attacks and current dynamics demand that we refine the international peace and security toolkit. There is a clear need to consider new models, new capabilities and new partnerships at both the political and operational level. In reflecting on the future of peacekeeping, we can and must draw lessons from the past. Australia’s own experience underpins our strong support for regional approaches to peace and security. We welcomed the landmark adoption of Resolution 2719 last December as a step towards sustainable financing for African Union-led peace support operations. And we welcome the technical collaboration between the United Nations and the African Union to refine the framework needed for its successful implementation. Regardless of the model, protection of civilians must remain a central objective of peace operations. Today, over 95% of UN peacekeepers operate under a protection mandate. Despite challenges, there is compelling evidence that United Nations peacekeeping operations are effective in reducing violence against civilians. The legitimacy of peace operations today and in the future also relies on continued momentum towards gender parity and achieving the Women, Peace and Security Agenda. Ensuring the full, equal and meaningful participation of women is essential. Australia is focused on reducing barriers to women’s participation, and we urge more partners to collaborate with the LC Initiative Fund to accelerate these efforts. Australia also prioritises the integration of peace-building with peacekeeping. Drawing from past experience, we must ensure forward-looking transition strategies are considered at the outset of missions, not the end. We encourage all Member States to advocate for continued integration of peacebuilding and peacekeeping to address root causes of conflict and sustain peace. The United Nations Peacebuilding Commission is well-placed to support these efforts. Australia will continue to be an active and trusted partner on UN peacekeeping as part of our commitment to global peace and security. Thank you, President.

President:
I thank the representative of Australia for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Kenya.

Kenya:
Thank you, Mr. President. I congratulate you on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for the month of September and commend you for choosing the topic of this open debate. Since the idea of UN peacekeeping was agreed upon and captured under Chapter 7 of the Charter, the nature and complexity of conflicts, as well as their identities and modes of operation of actors within those conflicts, have all dramatically evolved. Kenya is a longstanding troop-contributing country in UN peacekeeping missions, AU-led peace operations, and other ad hoc international arrangements, the most recent being the multinational security support mission in Haiti. Drawing from the knowledge and experiences gathered over the years allow me to underscore four imperatives for peacekeeping operations in addressing the evolving global peace and security landscape. The first imperative is adaptation. As conflicts evolve in complexity, scope, and impact, peacekeeping operations must be adjusted swiftly to keep in step with these changing dynamics and related challenges. Otherwise, peacekeeping missions risk becoming outdated and ineffective, thereby undermining the legitimacy and integrity of this council and the entire United Nations system. The second imperative is to demonstrate in word and in deed that every mission authorized by the Security Council under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter is undertaken for and on behalf of this council in the interest of international peace and security. It is challenging, for instance, for the Security Council to authorize non-UN-led missions while leaving the funding and equipping of such missions to unpredictable, unsustainable, and inadequate voluntary and ad-hoc arrangements. The adoption of Resolution 2719 represents a positive step in the right direction. There is need to not only implement, but also build on it incrementally to eventually secure full responsibility of the UN for all authorized non-UN peacekeeping missions. Meanwhile, Kenya is grateful to all Member States for their financial and logistical support for the Multinational Security Support Mission for Haiti and appeals to other Member States to support the mission. The third imperative is to ensure constant preparedness through capacity building. The UN and regional organizations, with the support of international partners, must focus on capacity building for Member States as potential troop-contributing countries and police-contributing countries, leveraging on specialized institutions of repute such as the International Peace Support Training Center in Nairobi. The fourth is ensuring that peacekeeping operations are transitional by nature and design. They must be able to concurrently facilitate political processes and support for national institutions to build the necessary capacities at national level for the protection of civilians and critical civilian infrastructure. In this regard, peacebuilding elements should always be factored into peacekeeping mandates to serve as a bridge. to sustainable peace, security, and stability in the host country. In conclusion, Mr. President, I reaffirm Kenya’s commitment to working with all member states in re-engineering UN peacekeeping that is responsive to the evolving conflicts and security threats. I thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of Kenya for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Argentina.

Argentina:
Thank you, Mr. President, and congratulations to you for presiding over the Council in September. Mr. President, the primary goal of the United Nations organization is to maintain international peace and security. This noble and inalienable mission means that we are obliged to strengthen and modernize multilateralism in this time of great global change. Against that backdrop, the establishment of peacekeeping operations in the 1950s was one of the most significant institutional developments within our organization. Argentina has participated in peacekeeping operations since 1958, when we sent military observers to the Middle East. That decision was born of our commitment to the development of an international collective security system, which was transparent and democratic, and which operated within the United Nations framework. Argentina is also one of the vice-chairs of C34, which is another expression of that commitment. Mr. President, in our view, peacekeeping operations are a tool within a broader strategy, a strategy which must include conflict prevention. sustaining peace, the building of a lasting peace, the strategy must also tackle the root causes of conflict. Peace must be won, maintained, and preserved. I wish to dwell for a moment on the particular importance of working in close cooperation with host countries in order to achieve a lasting peace with tangible results. Peacekeeping operations must promote solutions for countries that require them, provided always that these solutions are provided with stringent respect for the principle of national ownership. Moreover, we advocate for the drawing up of realistic mandates, mandates which at the same time can be adapted to changing situations on the ground. Ambiguous and excessively broad mandates can undermine their effectiveness and expose those fighting for peace to unnecessary risks. We urge the council to work closely with local authorities to define clear and viable mandates which can be successfully implemented. Elsewhere, another key area of focus must be the strengthening of the strategic communication of peacekeeping operations. That communication is vital for the implementation of PKO mandates and to manage expectations about what can and what cannot be achieved. It’s also vital in order to avoid the disinformation campaigns which hamper missions in their daily work. We must also step up our efforts to protect civilians. Always remembering that the initial words of the UN Charter are We the People. Peacekeeping operations must be equipped to address the violence targeting civilians and to guarantee that civilians can be effectively protected. Argentina reiterates its commitment to the implementation of robust protection strategies and to capacity building among deployed personnel in that vein, and as a TCC and PCC, we reaffirm the importance of strengthening pre-deployment training in a comprehensive fashion and at all stages. This training must be tailored to the needs of the specific mission where personnel are to be deployed. Finally, we wish to underscore the importance of strengthening the prevention facet of our organisation. If we don’t do that, it will be almost impossible to maintain the peace and stability of the international system. In that context, the PBC plays a fundamental role as it supports state-level efforts to build peace. It promotes dialogue and strengthens institutions. Thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of Argentina for their statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Cyprus.

Cyprus:
Thank you, Madam President. I would like to thank Slovenia for organising this timely debate, and I would also like to thank the briefers for their insightful presentations. At a time when the world faces complex, multifaceted challenges that threaten international peace and security, peacekeeping operations have a vital role to play. For decades, peacekeeping operations have offered proof that multilateralism works by helping countries navigate the difficult path from conflict to peace, thus making UN peacekeeping one of the most effective instruments for conflict mitigation and stabilisation. In the face of evolving and divergent crises, where peacekeeping operations are called upon to move beyond traditional tasks, it has become necessary to enhance their effectiveness and efficiency. In this respect, Cyprus supports the accelerated implementation of the Action for Peacekeeping in Ifec Shedif. as well as efforts to reform UN peacekeeping through the new Agenda for Peace to ensure that UN peacekeeping operations are truly fit for purpose. Improving the performance of peacekeeping operations is of strategic importance in order to be in operational readiness to fully implement their mandate, effectively uphold the resolutions of the Security Council, and prevent the creation of fait accompli on the ground that may hamper the resolution of conflicts. They must be sufficiently manned, equipped, and financed, while equitable gender representation is an important component that further contributes to the improvement of their efficiency. Cyprus supports the implementation of the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda and welcomes the increasing efforts for greater deployment of women in UN peacekeeping operations. As the host country to one of the longest-running peacekeeping operations in the world, Cyprus is acutely aware of the necessity of sustaining a UN force that prevents the recurrence of fighting, particularly in the face of ever-evolving challenges. The continuous occupation by Turkey of over a third of Cyprus’ territory and constant violations by the occupation army of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cyprus, contrary to UN Security Council resolutions, underscore this necessity. The deployment of ANPISIP and the significance of its presence, both in maintaining the ceasefire on the island and in the context of regional stability, has been demonstrated over the years and remains true to this day. ANPISIP’s mandate, as agreed to by the Republic of Cyprus, aims to uphold the Charter, implement the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and acts as a bulwark against the consolidation of the effects of aggression by contributing to the restoration of law and order and ensuring a return to normal conditions. The success of this mission is currently being jeopardized by creation of FEDAKOMPLI on the ground. It is therefore imperative to ensure the impartiality of peacekeeping operations, translates to adherence to the principles of the Charter, the ability to distinguish victim from exercer, as well as putting an end to any attempts to interfere with the status and deployment of the force. Transparent and sincere cooperation with the host state is a sine qua non. In the current global geopolitical context, it is imperative for the UN, and the Security Council in particular, to demonstrate that there are no double standards in the application of this Charter. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of states under attack must be defended, no matter where the attacks are coming from or how much time has passed. The Security Council must stand behind its own resolutions and ensure they have meaning. Otherwise, the credibility of the international system is severely undermined. Lastly, it must be acknowledged that peacekeeping is not an end in itself. It can only create and maintain conditions conducive to the fundamental task of searching for lasting political solutions. I thank you, Mr. President.

President:
I thank the representative of Cyprus for their statement, and I give the floor to the representative of Mexico.

Mexico:
Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, it is patently clear that United Nations peacekeeping operations are at a critical juncture, and we are seeing notable impacts on their operability. The simple fact that some host countries hosting these operations have called for their immediate withdrawal, citing their inefficiency or a lack of trust in how useful they are on the ground, clearly demonstrates that there is a pressing need to look at how we can improve the performance and outcomes of peacekeeping operations. The involvement of non-state actors in conflict the proliferation of weapons, the external financing of armed groups, and the potential malicious use of artificial intelligence are among the major challenges facing peacekeeping operation reform. To assume that these challenges can be addressed through traditional approaches is essentially a wholly outdated view. Mexico is of the view that promoting more effective communication between the Security Council and the host country, as well as more effective cooperation between them, is a fundamental component of improving peace operation performance. It is vital that the Council better understand the local dynamics of a conflict which a specific country may be facing, and as such that it then be able to promote precise mandates which are tailored to the situation which the operation is attempting to resolve. A protracted deployment of a peace operation where significant improvements are not seen quite logically will erode its legitimacy and will erode trust in the operation. During its tenure as an elected member of the Security Council in 2021-2022, Mexico put forward specific proposals on that issue with a view to improving peace operations performance. The first such proposal was to give the missions tools so that host countries could better combat arms trafficking. A second contribution was to recognize mental health challenges facing peace operations personnel and to offer mechanisms for comprehensive care to be provided to deal with those mental health issues. Mr. President, Mexico will continue to advocate for sustained scrutiny of peace operations and we will champion not only the absence of violence and hostilities in all four corners of the globe, but we’ll also champion the building of a social peace, democratic politics and economic stability. We’ll also fight for a culture of conflict prevention. Thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of Mexico for their statement and I give the floor to the representative of Brazil.

Brazil:
Mr. President, I thank Slovenia for convening this timely open debate. I also thank the briefers for their insightful remarks on the future of peacekeeping operations. While facing multiple challenges to the peace and security pillar of the UN, we need to reflect on the crisis the current peacekeeping model is facing, including this council’s recurring struggle to renew and adopt new peacekeeping mandates. Peacekeeping has long been a cornerstone of the United Nations efforts to maintain international peace and security. For about 20 years, this tool has evolved and been strengthened to provide stability, protect civilians and foster conditions conducive to sustainable peace. Yet, the international peace and security landscape has dramatically changed in the last few years. So have the dynamics of conflict and the needs of the people we serve. Protracted crises, the rise of multiple actors, including non-state ones, multifaceted humanitarian challenges, and the use of new technologies are increasing the complexity of modern conflicts. Strategic competition among great powers, distrust and frustration from host countries and local populations are also key elements of such landscape. We must update the peacekeeping model to address this new reality. This new model has to recognize that military responses are limited and sustainable peace cannot be achieved through security measures alone. Sustainable peace requires a comprehensive approach to security, which involves consideration of the root causes of violence as well as of the social and economic situation on the ground. An effective model of peacekeeping thus requires an approach that integrates political, security, and sustainable development dimensions. This could be achieved through a proper mix of peacekeeping and peacebuilding activities, which should be done in a simultaneous manner. Peacekeeping gains are better maintained in a society that is already in the path for improved social cohesion. An effective model of peacekeeping should also aim for increased coordination and engagement with regional organizations and local stakeholders. These partnerships are essential for contextualizing our peacekeeping operations and ensuring that our efforts are both relevant and effective. A future model for peacekeeping must be underpinned by strong political support, both by host states and council members, and by the adequate resources for the fulfillment of their goals. Mr. President, the debate you proposed today could be the starting point of a wider conversation on the future of peacekeeping. While we develop a new and more fit-for-purpose model of operations, we must keep on striving to deliver the best possible result for the people this organization is committed to protecting. Ensuring that peacekeepers adhere to the highest standards of conduct is crucial for maintaining the credibility and legitimacy of our missions. Adequately preventing and responding to sexual exploitation and abuse is also a core strategy of promoting and respecting human rights in the context of peacekeeping. We must also encourage the essential role of women peacekeepers. By liaising with local actors, female uniformed personnel can assess how human rights can be enhanced and better protected on the ground. Safety and security of peacekeepers must also continue to be a priority. The UN, troop and police contributing countries, and host states must act in close coordination to ensure that military and civilian personnel are safe and in conditions to fulfill their respective mandates. These are just a few examples of actions to keep on improving the response on the ground. Mr. President, Brazil remains committed to supporting and strengthening the United Nations peacekeeping efforts. As we look to the future, we reaffirm our commitment to adapting our approaches, enhancing collaboration, and ensuring that our peacekeeping operations are ready to meet the challenges ahead, advancing our collective pursuit of peace and security for all. I thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of Brazil for their statement. I now invite the representative of Thailand.

Thailand:
Mr. President. Members of the Council, I thank Slovenia for convening this very important Open Debate. I also wish to thank the Secretary-General La Croix and all briefers for their insights and suggestions. Thailand welcomes the progress made in line with the Secretary-General’s Action for Peacekeeping and the key priority areas of the Action for Peacekeeping Plus, which were highlighted in the Fifth Progress Report on the implementation of the A4P Plus released last week. Peacekeeping has been an important instrument for the maintenance of peace and security. We thank all peacekeepers for their commitment and sacrifice and would like to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the pursuit of global peace and security. In view of the upcoming summit of the future, allow me to share the following points. First, the safety and security of peacekeepers must always be our priority. Clear implementable mandates, sufficient resources and capabilities that match the needs on the ground are utmost important for peacekeeping missions in the increasingly challenging environments such as cyber attacks and the spread of hate speech, misinformation and disinformation. In addition, peacekeepers should be supported with necessary trainings on cross-cutting priorities of concern such as the protection of civilians, gender, human rights, conflict-related sexual violence and strategic communications, just to name a few. Second, efficient peacekeeping requires strengthened partnerships and engagement of all relevant stakeholders. Thailand supports strengthening of cooperation among the Security Council, the Secretariat, troops and police-contributing countries. host countries, regional organizations, and other concerned stakeholders in all stages of peacekeeping operations. We also support the integration of gender perspectives into all aspects of peacekeeping missions and the promotion of the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda. Female peacekeepers can certainly bring unique insights and, in most cases, gain trust and confidence from local populations, especially women and children. Thailand is very proud of the contributions of our female peacekeeping personnel to the UNPKOs in various places, such as Timor-Leste, Haiti, and the Fall. Third, peacekeeping should contribute to addressing the root causes of conflicts. As a longstanding troops and police-contributing country since 1958, Thailand recognizes the linkages and complementarities between peace and sustainable development. A core principle in our peacekeeping manual is to act as early peacebuilders, particularly in responding to local development needs to set the foundations for peace and good governance in the long term. Thailand’s 300 peacekeeping personnel in three peacekeeping missions across the region are fully committed to promoting sustainable development and equipping the local population with the tools to improve their livelihoods. Let me close my statement by reaffirming Thailand’s commitment to the United Nations peacekeeping. We stand ready to work with the international community in enhancing peacekeepers’ capabilities to the Triangular Partnership Project and its international peacekeeping causes. We certainly look forward to sharing our collective achievements in strengthening the United Nations. peacekeeping efforts in all dimensions at the upcoming summit of the future. Thank you, Mr. President.

President:
I thank the representative of Thailand for their statement. I now invite the representative of Canada.

Canada:
Thank you, Mr. President. We thank Slovenia for convening this important debate. And let me also thank Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Comfort Ero, and Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein for their briefings. Canada is proud to have made a significant contribution to UN peacekeeping throughout its long history. That history has been punctuated by political, financial, and operational crises. Many of the challenges peacekeeping faces today, including deep political division within the Security Council, some withdrawals of host nation consent, and disinformation attacks are not new. These crises have forced peacekeeping to evolve, particularly over the last quarter-century. Next month will be the 25th anniversary of the first peacekeeping mandate, with specific provisions on the protection of civilians, Resolution 1270. Every subsequent UN peacekeeping mission has been given a protection of civilians mandate. And next year will mark the 25th anniversary of landmark Resolution 1325 on women, peace, and security. Despite nine further Council resolutions, we still have more to do to ensure that women can play a meaningful role in peace operations at all levels. Over the same period, the Brahimi Report, New Horizons, and Action for Peacekeeping have sought to make peacekeeping safer, more diverse, more accountable, and more effective. Canada believes that UN peacekeeping should continue to evolve, guided by a positive and ambitious vision for the future, while building on its significant experience. and toolkit. We have four recommendations. First, Council members should reaffirm the basic principles underlying peace operations – the UN Charter, international humanitarian law, and universal human rights. Second, the Council should strengthen efforts to find common ground on realistic, politically supported peace operation mandates through more field visits, cooperation with regional bodies, and regular engagement with staff in deployed peace operations. Third, the Council should hear from and engage with other Member States that are critical to peace operations. Canada is committed to using its Vice-Chair role within C34 to support that constructive dialogue. Lastly, the Council should continue to collaborate with regional organizations and other UN bodies to prevent and address the root causes of conflict, particularly the Peace Building Commission. At the operational level, we would like to underscore three priorities that are needed to strengthen the host country’s consent. First of all, ordinary people legitimately expect that the UN presence is not just there to mitigate the damage caused by its own operations, but rather that they undertake measures to reduce violence related to conflict, and the mandates should reflect that. Secondly, once we hear the legitimate criticism and respond to them, peace operations should be equipped to monitor and counter the malicious disinformation targeting peacekeepers or undermining the peace processes. Thirdly, the lesson that needs to be drawn from recent transitions and current ones is that peace operations need to plan for exit strategies so as to maintain and transfer the protection capacities to the host state and other UN actors at the end of the mission. Implementing these priorities implies close cooperation with local communities, civil society organizations, local and government authorities, United Nations country teams, and regional organizations. Such cooperations should support equal participation of women at all levels. Canada is one of the main extra-budgetary donors, also supporting the efforts made by the Department of Peace operations in all of its areas, as well as in the area of medical support or health care, mental health care support. Mr. President, Resolution 2719 provides us with a possibility of establishing peace operations which are led at the regional level and which are building on the political will of the African Union and the courage of its peacekeepers. These operations ought to be supported at every step by the United Nations, and not just financially, but also because of our in-depth and unique expertise. Any operation which is a partnership operation needs to continue making progress in terms of civilian protection, advance the Women, Peace, and Security agenda, and maintain the United Nations obligations when it comes to human rights. The world will always need a United Nations peacekeeping operations, and Canada will be there to support them. I thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of Canada for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan:
Mr. President, I thank the Slovenian Presidency of the Security Council for highlighting the emerging future threats to peace and security in increasingly complex, volatile environments. Peacekeepers will be ever more imperiled. and missions disrupted by unprecedented asymmetric warfare, terrorism, urban warfare, attacks on civilians and humanitarian actors, cyber and information warfare, and lethal technological advances. These are often by non-state actors and are malicious. Kazakhstan therefore honors all peacekeepers for their ultimate sacrifice for the cause of peace. Furthermore, fragmented political landscapes complicate negotiations and peace enforcement. So in our view, peacekeepers will need be increasingly engaged in disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration and assist in democratic process and the rule of law. For greater effectiveness, as we see it, missions must have clear, achievable mandates with predictable long-term funding, state-of-the-art equipment, and adequate, highly trained personnel with greater mobility capacity. The WPS and USAD agendas are imperatives for success. Close collaboration with the Peacebuilding Commission will prevent relapses and support long-term recovery and sustainable development. Kazakhstan is deeply committed to UN peacekeeping, constantly enlarging its contribution. Recently, the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan approved the deployment of 430 military personnel in Lebanon, Cyprus, Western Sahara, the Central African Republic, the DRC, South Sudan, Abyei, and Middle East. In March this year, Kazakhstan deployed for the first time, its historic first, a national peacekeeping contingent to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force. Kazakhstan has now become a full-fledged troop-contributing country. We sincerely believe that in the future the monopoly of deployment should be reduced and that peacekeeping contingents are equitably rotated more frequently. Kazakhstan also fully supports the initiative of the UN Department of Operational Support to develop a new arms and military equipment exchange program where one country provides personnel while another provides the necessary equipment with a technical support team. We are ready to join the UN working group on contingent on equipment as well as to discuss the procedures of procurement of products for UN peacekeeping activities. To conclude with its highly skilled and committed troops, Kazakhstan will join the multilateral action to strengthen UN peace operations to meet the threats of the future. I thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of Kazakhstan for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Lebanon.

Lebanon:
Mr. President, first of all, we would like to congratulate you on acceding to the leadership of the Council this month and we thank you for having organized this open debate to discuss the ways and means of enhancing peace operations, which is the most important tool the United Nations has so as to maintain international peace and security. I would like to thank the briefers for their substantive presentations. Mr. President, Lebanon attaches a great deal of importance to the issue of peacekeeping operations in particular. Given the fact that since 1978, Lebanon has hosted the UNIFIL at Lebanon, we welcome the vital role that the mission has been playing given the difficult situation in Lebanon and in the region in particular. Their mandate was extended for an additional year this year. through Resolution 2749, which passed unanimously by the Security Council last month. And this was a very clear message sent by the Council that their friend of Lebanon, the international community, has not forgotten Lebanon, that the international community remains committed to peace and stability along internationally recognized borders. And this relationship of partnership between Lebanon and the United Nations through UNIFIL is an example of the success which reflects the importance of the mission and the positive role that PKOs play in maintaining international peace and security. We also welcome the relationship which links the people in the south of Lebanon and border villages with UNIFIL. They welcome the mission and ensure that they work in a conducive environment, conducive to their mandate implementation. Their fires are isolated incidents and were condemned by Lebanon, by the government, and the people. We are committed to protecting UNIFIL and facilitating their mandate implementation. We also thank them, the Commander Lazaro, for the efforts he is making, and the 49 troop and police-contributing countries. And we commend the sacrifices they made for peace and security internationally. We commit ourselves to 2701 in all of its provisions, and we call upon the Council to exert pressure on Israel to implement all of the provisions to withdraw from the occupied territories in Lebanon and to stop the aggression which began in October 2023. The roadmap to implement 1701, it’s clear it was presented by Lebanon to the Council. Namely, ending the occupation violations, respecting the territorial integrity of Lebanon. The Lebanon, the people, the government are not aggressive, but the aggressions against us continue and have been going on for 11 months. And they affect the UNIFIL area of operations and endanger the mission. The aggression against the civilians and civilian infrastructure by Israel, which cost lives recently to the three members of the Lebanese civilian defense as we were trying to put out a fire, has to do with the use of white phosphorus, but Israel, in Farun, in the south, this is something that we condemn by us and by you as well. No one has a right to attack those who work to help save people, civilians, reporters. This is a violation of international law, international humanitarian law, but also undermines the very basis of humanity. Mr. President, despite these strategies and threats and daily violations, Lebanon continues looking for lasting and integrated solutions, the kind of solutions which provide for lasting stability along internationally recognized borders. That is the only way the civilians will get back to their villages and have normal life resume. We welcome any and all initiative in this regard and diplomatic mediation and all efforts aimed at a ceasefire and bringing common stability along the internationally recognized border. Mr. President, your role is essential. It’s key. Without you, there is no way of implementing 1701. It is your duty to do your utmost to make sure that Israel abides by the provisions of your resolutions. Otherwise, the Middle East… run the risk of remaining in the region of conflict, which sometimes becomes karma, other times not. Without international justice, we will not have stability, so let’s work together to get there. I thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of Lebanon for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Israel.

Israel:
Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you for convening this important debate. On behalf of the state of Israel, I would first like to express appreciation for the women and men who serve in UN peacekeeping operations. We thank them for their dedication and commitment and extend our deep respect to the peacekeepers who have given their lives in pursuit of peace and stability across the globe. In recent years, peacekeeping missions have confronted an unprecedented, urgent, and evolving challenge, a challenge demanding a rapid adaptation to a shifting reality in which non-state actors and terrorist organizations maliciously operate under the guise of NGOs and nonprofits to deceive the international community while exploiting civilian infrastructure, converting schools, hospitals, and UN sites into command centers and weapons storage facilities, a reality in which terrorist organizations exhibit a complete disregard for the safety and welfare not only of their own civilians, but also of UN peacekeepers willfully and flagrantly violating international law and Security Council resolutions. Mr. President, at the time of its establishment, UNIFIL was to play a key role in maintaining peace and security. However, the mission has faced increasing obstacles to the fulfillment of their mandate, first and foremost from the actions of internationally designated terror organization Hezbollah. UNIFIL’s primary mandate is to monitor the cessation of hostilities along the blue line. and ensure that its area of operation is not utilized to hostile activities of any kind. However, for years, Hezbollah carried out its military buildup within UNIFIL’s area of operations and has seen over the past 11 months, fires rockets and missiles in close proximity to UNIFIL’s posts. Hezbollah’s blocking of access to many areas of interest and refusal to allow peacekeepers to freely patrol the area under claims of private properties creates severe blind spots where terrorist activity continues unchecked. By obstructing UNIFIL’s operations, Hezbollah sends a clear message of defiance, diminishing UNIFIL’s credibility as well as the United Nations as a whole. To be clear, every violation against UNIFIL occurring within Lebanese territory is the responsibility of the Lebanese government. They ought to be held accountable for it. Mr. President, what we see in southern Lebanon is Hezbollah’s determination to fortify its presence and activities along the Blue Line to destabilize the region. These efforts are directed and funded by the Iranian regime. A day following Hamas’s brutal attack against Israel on October 7th, Hezbollah began firing rockets, missiles and drones toward towns and villages in Israel on a daily basis in blatant violation of Security Council Resolution 1701. The Security Council must condemn Hezbollah’s escalatory attacks and designate them as a terror organization. Equally important is the full, accurate and impartial reporting of peacekeeping operations to the Security Council. Peacekeeping operations reporting must reflect the realities on the ground rather than conceal them. The latest example is the lack of proper reporting of the tragic attack of Majd al-Shams on July 27th in which 12 children and teenagers were murdered. It is troubling that despite the capacity to determine the origins of the Iranian Faleq-1 rocket used in the attack, no U.N. entity yet reported the fact that the attack was carried out from South Lebanon. Mr. President, to conclude, across the globe, we see a model of the non-state terror organization being duplicated. We urge the Security Council to demand accurate reporting from the ground to threats to international peace and security, to hold those who obstruct missions of peacekeeping operations, notably terrorist organizations, accountable, and to ensure that peacekeepers can operate without hindrance in complete fulfillment of their mandate. Thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of Israel for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Malaysia. Thank you.

Malaysia:
Mr. President, please accept our congratulations on your presidency of the Security Council for the month of September. Thank you for convening this open debate and for continuing to highlight the importance of the U.N. peacekeeping agenda. I would also like to thank the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations and other distinguished briefers for their insights. Mr. President, Malaysia recognizes the essential role of U.N. peacekeeping in maintaining international peace and security. As a testament to our commitment, Malaysia has been active and consistent in contributing military and law enforcement personnel to U.N. peacekeeping operations. We made our first contribution of troops in 1960 as part of the U.N.’s peacekeeping operation in the Congo, only a few years after Malaysia gained its independence in 1957. Since then, Malaysia has participated in over 38 peacekeeping operations, involving about 40,000 personnel from the Malaysian Armed Forces and the Royal Malaysian Police. To date, Malaysia is proud to have 878 peacekeepers. 11% of them women, being deployed in various UN peacekeeping missions. Mr President, Malaysia has always been a strong advocate for the continued improvement of UN peacekeeping to ensure it is fit for purpose and continues to be relevant. The evolving geopolitical landscape necessitates the continuous development of UN peacekeeping. While we endeavour to make peacekeeping operations adaptable to current conditions, we must always be mindful of the primary objective, that is to restore sustainable peace through political solutions. Looking ahead, we must ensure that peacekeeping missions can effectively carry out their mandated tasks and foster conditions conducive for peaceful political resolutions. In this context, Malaysia wishes to highlight the following three points. First, we must give due emphasis on the effective implementation of peacekeeping mandates. The Council must strive to draft clear, focused and achievable mandates in consultation with host countries as well as with troop and police contributing countries. This approach will ensure that expectations are adequately addressed and that appropriate political support is secured. Second, the evolving geopolitical landscape requires enhanced cooperation between the UN as well as regional and sub-regional organisations in accordance with Chapter 8 of the UN Charter. Malaysia firmly believes that a strong partnership between the UN and regional as well as sub-regional organisations is essential. Third, Malaysia strongly supports the full, effective and meaningful participation of women in peacekeeping as emphasised in Security Council Resolution 2538-2020. The involvement of women peacekeepers can facilitate interactions and confidence-building with local communities and affected populations, particularly with women and children. Greater investments and efforts are needed to widen the role of women in peacekeeping, including through training and capacity building. In this regard, Malaysia remains committed to providing training on the role of women in peacekeeping missions at the Malaysian Peacekeeping Centre. Mr President, in conclusion, Malaysia believes that collaboration between the Security Council, the Secretariat, host countries, regional and sub-regional organisations, as well as troop and police contributing countries should be approached in the spirit of partnership. Malaysia reaffirms its commitment to strengthening United Nations peacekeeping operations. We are committed to work together with all our partners to ensure that peacekeeping remains effective and capable of responding adequately to evolving and new challenges. Thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of Malaysia for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Mongolia.

Mongolia:
Mr President, Mongolia appreciates Slovenia’s leadership in convening this timely debate on UN peacekeeping. We also thank Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Dr. Comfort Ero and Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein for the insightful briefings. Peacekeeping remains central to the UN’s effort in conflict zones. As we look ahead, it is crucial that peace operations are politically unified and capable of meeting evolving challenges. Today’s conflicts demand that the Security Council provide robust, cohesive political support to UN peacekeeping operations ensuring clear mandates and the safety of peacekeepers. Over the past 20 years, Mongolia has contributed over 20,000 troops to UN peacekeeping missions globally, ranking in the top 18 troop contributing countries for female peacekeepers. In 2022, Mongolia hosted the first international conference on women peacekeepers, emphasizing the critical role of women in building trust and enhancing peace operations. Mongolia fully supports the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security, and Secretary General’s Action for Peacekeeping, A4P initiative. We are committed to increasing the participation of women and youth in UN peacekeeping to enhance the legitimacy and inclusiveness of peace processes. Furthermore, we are initiating a Peacekeepers and Their Families Social Support pilot project to address the social security needs of peacekeepers and their families. Over 1,500 Mongolian women have served in UN peacekeeping missions, and efforts are underway to further enhance their skills and increase their participation. For peace operations to succeed, the Security Council must provide clear, realistic, and adaptable mandates, regularly reviewed to meet evolving conflict conditions. Additionally, the safety of peacekeepers is paramount, and the Council must ensure they are equipped with necessary resources, training, and technology. This includes early warning systems, improved logistical support, and better intelligence sharing. Finally, Mongolia believes that peace operations must respect the unique context of each nation. We encourage closer engagement with regional organizations and local actors to ensure missions to have the political and local support needed for success. In closing, Mongolia remains fully committed to supporting the Security Council’s effort to enhance peace operations and promote global peace and security. I thank you, Mr. President.

President:
I thank the representative of Mongolia for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Burundi.

Burundi:
Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, I would like to thank Slovenia for having organized this debate on strengthening UN peacekeeping, which leads us to thinking about how we can make our missions more adaptable to meet the current challenges. We think that peacekeeping operations have played a key role in safeguarding international peace and security, but modern conflicts are increasingly multifaceted and involve state and non-state actors with complicated local and regional trends. The world is constantly evolving, and given that new conflicts are appearing and new geopolitical realities are appearing, it is therefore imperative for us to rethink and adopt our operations to make sure that they remain relevant and effective. The mandates of our missions have to be clear, targeted, and flexible to be able to adjust to the changing realities. Section 2719 of the Security Council, adopted in 2023, is a significant step forward here. It underscores the importance of strengthening cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations such as the African Union, and it supports a crucial need for having a predictable and sustainable funding for these operations, which allows for greater planning and swifter reaction to crises. It also strengthens regional capacities while building on the resources and the expertise coming from the UN. This strengthened partnership is particularly relevant within the context of the Haiti operation. The Multinational Security Support Mission recently mandated by the Security Council is an example of such cooperation. The mission in Haiti, with the support of the international community, is there to stabilize the country against the background of a deep security and political crisis. It shows how a peacekeeping operation, together with regional and international actors, can play a crucial role so as to restore order and promote a lasting political solution. On the issue of political missions, here, the role played by my country, Burundi, is worthy of special mention. We have actively contributed PKOs in Somalia, in particular, in Central African Republic, in Haiti from 2010 to 2016, and we’ve provided support to stability in difficult environments. And we are proud of this contribution, but we will not stop there. We’ll use our experience on the ground, and we’re open to participation in other UN missions, however difficult they may be. I would like to mention here that we have prepared a formed police unit, an FPU, which is almost entirely women. It hasn’t been deployed, but this unit is there ready to be used should there be a need. The women are trained and experienced, and it shows our inclusive and diversified approach to peacekeeping. Their experience and preparation is a valuable asset for the protection of people and improving of peacekeeping operations. To strengthen peacekeeping operations, we need to concentrate ourselves on several things. First, as I mentioned, within Resolution 2719, we have underscored the importance of greater cooperation between the UN regional organizations, African Union. It’s essential to react to crisis. Second, the political consistency within the Security Council has to be strengthened. The political united political support is indispensable to make sure that operations are successful. What we have seen is growing fragmentation in the approval and extension of mandates, and this weakens our capacity to act with authority and undermines our credibility on the ground. Three, mission mandate has to be drafted so as to meet the local realities with clear objectives meeting the needs of local populations. Next. Fourth, the commitment of member states and stakeholders is key. We need to bring in systematically the host countries, neighboring countries, and TCC and PCCs. Cooperation amongst all of this will help us strengthen the legitimacy of missions but also promote a political environment conducive to peace. Regional organizations also have a crucial role to play by supporting our efforts. And five, active participation of women and the young people in peacekeeping missions is not just a strategic priority but also a key factor for success. A people-centered approach which integrates a gender dimension is indispensable to want to have lasting peace. Women play a key role in conflict prevention and peace building, and there is significant participation at all stages of the peace process and not just a justice issue but also makes good strategic sense. Next. It is imperative to develop transition strategies which are properly adopted to situations on the ground and develop with time. We have to make sure that the strategies and dispositions for the end of mandate allow us to make sure that there is no haste at the end of the mandate, and thus our missions in transition is not compromised. We have to draw lessons from some recent experiences. As we approach the summit of the future, we can say that we will have the opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to multilateralism and international cooperation if you want to make sure that our peacekeeping missions remain effective. We have to fully commit ourselves to adapting them to contemporary realities. We have to reform the Security Council and promote an inclusive and strategic approach. It’s through a joint effort and seamless cooperation that we will get close to peace globally and we will ensure a better future for all. I thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of Burundi for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Kingdom of the Netherlands:
Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, I’d like to thank Slovenia for organizing this important debate. I’d also like to express our deep appreciation to the briefers for their valuable insights. Peacekeeping remains an indispensable instrument of the UN and the international community to maintain peace and security. We are grateful to all troop and police contributing countries. Their contingents daily put their lives on the line and sometimes they tragically pay the ultimate price. My country aligns itself with the European Union’s statement. I’d like to make three observations in my national capacity. My country’s first observation relates to the conditions for successful UN peacekeeping operations. As said, UN peacekeeping faces many challenges such as the changing nature of conflict, the mission’s limited adaptability to conflict dynamics, limited resources, and effectiveness. Sometimes missions are compounded by unrealistic expectations and shrinking acceptance by host states and local populations, often fueled by myths and disinformation. UN peacekeeping operations only succeed when they can rely on strong, genuine, and unified political support by the Security Council, host states, and the wider UN membership. Missions and their personnel, often working under challenging circumstances, must receive our full support. My second observation concerns the reform and adaptation of UN peacekeeping. The Kingdom of the Netherlands actively contributes to discussions and processes regarding the modernization and reform of UN peace missions, such as the launch and implementation of the Secretary-General’s Action for Peacekeeping and Action for Peacekeeping Plus, and also championing the protection and performance theme. We also support the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Conferences and co-host several preparatory conferences. We welcome the focus of next year’s Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin and its preparatory conferences on UN peacekeeping’s future, as this also builds on the new Agenda for Peace and the Summit of the Future. We must all ensure that UN peace operations are fit for purpose and for the future. My last and third observation is on the core business of present and future peace operations. Peace operations, of course, are never the solution or the goal. They must rather serve and support larger political processes towards the resolution of conflicts. Importantly, they must deliver on their primary task to protect civilians, as this is an enduring strategic objective of UN peacekeeping, both today and in the future. And this is also why my country puts people and communities at the heart of our protection-focused programs. Also, the UN peace operations are more effective when they are people-centered and support inclusive, sustainable peace, particularly by involving effective communities more in the development and implementation. of missions protection strategies, and including the perspectives of different groups, including women, youth, and local NGOs. Future models of peace operation must maintain a focus on protection of civilians, as well as human rights, compliance, and prevention of civilian harm. So putting people at the center is really key. In closing, Mr. President, you can continue to count on the Kingdom of the Netherlands as a staunch supporter of UN peacekeeping, multilateralism, and sustainable peace, and as an incoming member of the Peacebuilding Commission. Thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for the statement, and I give the floor to the representative of Nepal.

Nepal:
Mr. President, thank you for convening today’s open debate. I thank the distinguished briefers for their valuable and insightful briefings. Mr. President, ever since its inception, UN peacekeeping has been one of the most effective multilateral tools for promoting peace and protecting lives, often with limited resources. Efforts have continuously adapted through reform initiatives like FOP and FOP+. However, today’s geopolitical environment, changing welfare, the rise of non-state actors, misinformation, and complex domestic and transnational factors have created new challenges. Basic principles such as consent, impartiality, the non-use of force have been increasingly contested by member states, including host governments. UN peacekeeping is now overstretched, caught between high external expectations. and internal limitations. The Secretary-General’s new Agenda for Peace reminds us to reflect on the limitations and embrace a comprehensive approach that keeps peacekeeping fit for purpose. This requires sustained political strategies and holistic approaches that address the root cause of the conflict. In this context, let me highlight a few points. First, effective peacekeeping requires more than just boots on the ground. It demands a unified political commitment from all stakeholders, especially the Security Council. Political fragmentation erodes the Council’s influence on world states and civilian populations. With a united voice, we must all support political solutions alongside peacekeeping and maintain diplomatic pressures on conflicting parties to implement peace agreements. Second, peace mission mandates should be context-specific, sequenced, realistic, and flexible to adapt to evolving conflict environments. Mandates should be backed by adequate resources, including modern technologies for better communication, data analytics, and intelligence capabilities. Third, existing strategies must be planned early. We need to integrate peace operations with broader political, developmental, and humanitarian efforts to prevent a post-withdrawal security vacuum. Fourth, stronger and sustained partnership with neighboring countries and regional organizations are vital to maneuver local dynamics. We believe that meaningful consultations with stakeholders foster local ownership and trust. Fifth, engagement with communities, particularly women and youth. is essential for promoting an inclusive and people-centered peace process. Lastly, implementing international and regional initiatives to counter terrorism, transnational organized crimes, and illicit diversion of weapons is crucial for creating an enabling environment for sustaining peace. Mr. President, as we stand on the cusp of the Summit of the Future, we must ensure that peacekeeping is part of a broader strategy. Let us ensure that our peacekeeping missions are well-equipped, properly mandated, and politically supported to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. As the largest troops and police contributing country, Nepal is ready to bring its invaluable expertise and experience to the table. I thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of Nepal for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Rwanda.

Rwanda:
Thank you, Mr. President. First and foremost, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to you and Slovenia for convening this debate and reaffirm Rwanda’s unwavering support for Slovenia’s presidency during this month. I also would like to thank the briefers for their insightful statements shared this morning. Thank you. As we approach the high-level discussions of the Summit of the Future, Rwanda values the opportunity to participate and reiterates the importance of rethinking UN peacekeeping – peace operations to meet the challenges of our time. UN Security Council Resolution 2378, adopted on September 12, 2017, marked a turning point by introducing reforms aimed at enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of peacekeeping missions. Yet, despite these efforts, peacekeeping continues to face significant challenges. As one of the top troop contributors to UN peacekeeping, Rwanda recognizes the crucial role these missions play in maintaining global peace and security. However, the rising complexity of conflicts demands a recalibration of our approach. The UN Security Council’s inability to unite due to geopolitical tensions has often undermined peacekeeping efforts, preventing them from fully delivering on their mandates. This necessitates a fresh perspective on how we allocate resources and design strategies. In this regard, Rwanda offers the following insights. First, we believe that reallocating resources towards peacebuilding and conflict prevention is essential. The approved UN peacekeeping budget for 2024 of approximately US$5.6 billion will support missions across the globe. It is imperative that we rethink our approach to balance our funding priorities towards peacebuilding and conflict prevention as well. Rwanda strongly advocates for this shift as addressing the root causes of conflict would not only foster sustainable peace but also reduce the need for prolonged and costly peacekeeping operations. Second, peacekeeping mandates must be designed and approved at sub-regional, regional, and multilateral levels. Weak mandates can escalate crisis, leading to indefinite missions and a loss of trust among the host populations. Lead missions should prioritize supporting the peace process to prevent conflict escalation and protecting civilians requires addressing the root cause of conflict through peaceful political solutions. Third, peacekeeping efforts must be increasingly integrated with diplomatic and political strategies. This means focusing on political dialogue, governance reforms, and engaging stakeholders to address underlying tensions, ensuring long-term peace. Finally, counterterrorism presents a unique challenge. As a global threat, it does not fit within traditional peacekeeping frameworks. But lateral cooperations and resources beyond the current scope are required to address the growing concern, especially considering Resolution 2719, which we consider seminal. Mr. President, in conclusion, the future of peacekeeping will demand innovative strategies and greater collaboration. Redirecting resources to conflict prevention and peacebuilding will enhance our ability to address the root causes of conflict, ultimately making peacekeeping more effective and sustainable. Rwanda remains committed to finding practical solutions to the complex challenges that hinder the full realization of peacekeeping mandates. Thank you for your attention.

President:
I thank the representative of Rwanda for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Angola.

Angola:
Mr. President, thank you for convening this timely meeting. The international peace and security architecture is more and more confronted with new and complex transnational challenges, as witnessed an increase of global tensions and the highest number of violent conflicts since World War II. The UN peace operations are an essential tool to protect civilians in conflict situations and actively promote long-term peace and security strategies. However, international support for them is declining, requiring that they urgently adapt to these involving security and diplomatic dynamics. in order to be able to effectively fulfill their mandates. Mr. President, Africa, the continent that hosts most of the peace operations in the world, continues struggling with the limited financial resources to meet its security needs. The adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2719 last December is an important milestone in the United Nations-African Union partnership on peace and security, since it provides the framework for adequate, predictable and sustainable financing to African Union-led peace support operations. The African Union and its regional organizations have demonstrated a clear comparative advantage as first responders with the political will to undertake offensive operations in high-risk environments. More than a strategic priority for Africa to create conditions to achieve sustainable development, a well-funded Africa peace and security architecture is in the best interest of the international community. Like some other African countries in conflict situations, Angola benefited from four UN peacekeeping missions authorized by the Security Council between 1989 and 2007 to assist the country in restoring peace and achieving national reconciliation. While recognizing the critical role played by the United Nations in the success of this process, at the end of the day, Angola’s leaders’ strong commitment to a political solution and the government’s high-ground approach to peace and national unity were the determinant factors to end decades of internal conflict on 4 April 2002. Mr. President, to conclude, allow me to make three points. First, peacekeeping has been impacted by lack of consensus in the Security Council as a result of the emergence of geopolitical tension and contemporary great power rivalry. The Council needs to ensure full and consistent political support to peace operations in order to enable them to deliver on their mandates more effectively and create favorable conditions for finding durable solutions to conflict. Second, we need to address the widening gap between the UN peacekeeping mandates and what missions can realistically deliver on the ground in order to manage host country authorities and citizen expectations and avoid crisis of legitimacy and force early exit, as we have seen in Mali and the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC. Third, in the context of the draft pact for the future and the discussion, it is fundamental to take into account the role of regional partners in peace operations and their respective comparative advantage to have a comprehensive and effective response to current and emerging peace and security threats in the world. I thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of Angola for their statement. I give the floor to the representative of Cambodia.

Cambodia:
Thank you, Mr. President, Mr. President, Excellency, distinguished delegates. To begin, please allow me to express my sincere gratitude to you, Mr. President, for convening this important debate on strengthening UN peacekeeping reflections for the future. I also thank the briefer and speaker for their valuable insights. Today’s debate underscores the urgent need for more effective UN peacekeeping operations that can protect better both peacekeeping personnel and civilians in the face of current and emerging challenges. Mr. President, the challenges facing UN peacekeeping today are unprecedented. We need a new, agile peacekeeping paradigm that addresses the root cause of the conflict. In this regard, Cambodia supports the Secretary-General’s New Agenda for Peace and the Pact for the Future, which aims to revitalize multilateralism and enhance the UN’s capacity to meet global peace and security challenges. Drawing from Cambodian experience, there are several critical reflections for strengthening UN Peacekeeping Operations, PKO. First, we must prioritize local context. All UN peacekeeping missions must understand and adapt to the local context and culture. This cultural sensitivity has built trust, encouraged cooperation, and created the conditions for growing peace. UN peacekeepers have proven that respecting local customs, traditions, and community structures is not a courtesy but a core strategy for the mission’s success. Second, we must enhance capacity building and training. Strengthening the effectiveness of peacekeeping missions fundamentally depends on personal skills and preparedness. In this connection, my country will host the UN Republic of Korea-Cambodian Triangle Partnership Program in November 2024 and the UN-Japan-Cambodian TTP in 2025, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening peacekeeping capability. Third, we must support inclusive peace process. Inclusivity is essential for achieving sustainable peace. Cambodian experience demonstrates that engaging all stakeholders, particularly women and marginalized communities, leads to a more effective conflict resolution and peace building. By promoting gender diversity, Cambodia has shown that women participation not only improves operational effectiveness but also introduces fresh perspectives to complex challenges. Fourth, we must adapt to the new step. Peacekeeping must be adaptable to respond effectively to today’s complex security landscape. Thus, to confront the evolving challenges effectively, the United Nations and host nations must ensure that peacekeepers are equipped with advanced tools, technologies, and innovative strategies. Comprehensive measures such as demanding in Mali and addressing the health crisis in South Sudan highlight the need for resilience and innovation in peacekeeping efforts. Fifth, we must build sustainable partnerships and multilateralism. Deepening collaboration between the UN regional organizations and member states is crucial for effective and sustainable peacekeeping missions. We must unite to enhance peacekeeping efforts and build trust among peacekeeping operations. Thus, Cambodians believe that partnerships and multilateral cooperation are essential for PKO’s successful. Mr. President, Cambodia is both a beneficiary and a proud contributor to UN peacekeeping. Our journey began with the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia, UNTAD, in the early 1990s, a crucial step in our peace process. Building on this experience, since 2006, we have deployed more than 9,000 troops, including 20 percent women, to support peace in conflict zones. Today there are over 600 Cambodian peacekeepers serving in South Sudan, Lebanon, the Central African Republic, and Democratic Republic of Congo. In conclusion, Cambodia reaffirms its unwavering commitment to support UN peacekeeping efforts as a central component of many interests of peace and security. In this regard, my delegation encourages all member states to support the candidature of Cambodia for the PBC for the term 2025 to 2026. I thank you, Mr. President.

President:
I thank the representative of Cambodia for their statement. I give the floor to the representative of Serbia.

Serbia:
Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you very much for convening this important meeting. Mr. President, distinguished members of Security Council, ladies and gentlemen, Serbia is a strong supporter of multilateralism and considers the strengthening of multilateral efficiency as of paramount importance. My country believes that only by working together and harmonizing our efforts as well as mutual respect solutions could be found to do growing global challenges, even so often transnational in nature. That situation calls for our collective commitments as we have all made a pledge to safeguard peace and make contributions. Mr. President, Serbia’s opinion that peacekeeping operation represents one of key instruments for realizing essential role of United Nations in maintaining international peace and security, and it’s convinced that multilayered role of peacekeeping, which in addition to keeping peace and protecting civilians, is contributive to political process, security, human rights protection, and rule of law, and therefore of paramount importance for building lasting stability. At the same time, we are well aware that need of reform, the missions in the field, considering that their mandate are now much more complex as they include prevention of conflicts and of peace, as well as post-conflict reconstructions and long-term development. Serbia calls for strengthening of role and potential of United Nations for maintaining peace, peaceful solutions of disputes, and preventing conflicts, especially with respects of early warning about possible crises. and conflicts. We welcome efforts of Secretary General Guterres to reform United Nations peacekeeping architecture as we believe that more coherent approach and strengthening of United Nations institutional structure will help achieve greater efficiency in responding to crisis situation. In that context, we believe that missions in the field should be provided with appropriate financial and human resources in order to be ready to respond timely and efficiently to violent political and security circumstances in that phase. Mr. President, Serbia is committed to actively participating in a system of collective security. Participation of members of Serbian armed forces in United Nations peacekeeping operation is important building block of my country’s foreign policy, which is firmly committed to keeping peace in the region and the world. To that effect, we work with our partners on building of capacity of our military and other defense forces to take a part in multinational operations. Let me remind you that Serbia has made concrete contribution to the promotion of global and regional security situation in a long tradition of Yugoslav participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations. Ever since its first engagement in 1956 in UNIF on Sinai Peninsula, more than 18,000 members of Yugoslav people’s army were enlisted to serve in United Nations peacekeeping operation. In 2002, more than decade of absence, Serbia joined ranks of active participants in segments of United Nations activities today. Since that time, over 6,500 members of Serbian armed forces and Serbian Ministry of Defense and Internal Affairs can be deployed in peacekeeping. keeping operations. Currently, members of Serbian armed forces take a part in four missions of United Nations, in which 269 of its members take a part of UN mission in Cyprus and Lebanon, in Middle East and in Central African Republic. Also, Serbian armed forces take a part in four mission and operation of European Union, in which 17 of its members take a part in Somalia, Central African Republic, and Mozambique. Members of Serbian Ministry of Interior Affairs take a part in UN mission in Cyprus. Out of 286 members of Serbian armed forces currently deployed in EU and UN missions and operation, 52 are women. According to data of United Nations Secretariat, Serbia is sixth among European peacekeeping contributors, 38 among world contributors, and first among regional contributors. Participation at already achieved level is envisioned to contribute for coming period. Number of deployees is not expected to increase considerably. However, it is expected that up to 800 members of Serbian armed forces and Ministry of Defense of Serbia will be deployed every year, wherever individually and containment will be rotated during the year. Last year, National Assembly of Serbia adopted law on participation of civilians in international missions and operation outside borders of Republic of Serbia. Law will make it possible for further deployment of civilian personnel to the peace operations. Mr. President, my country attaches great importance to United Nations mission, also for fact that it’s a host to the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo. Omnic, established by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 from 1999. Omnic presence and activity in Serbian province of Kosovo and Metohija is in unchanged mandate and under many scope is of paramount importance for sustainable and long-term role of this mission in building and maintaining stability in the province. Bearing in mind that continued multiple challenges and overall complex political and security situation in Kosovo and Metohija and the fact that Serbs and other non-Albanians trust United Nations mission the most, my country considers that Omnic must remain engaged in each and every issue of importance for consistent implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 from 1999. Serbia remains firmly committed to continuing participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations and is ready to cooperate actively and to make contribution within our common efforts to ensure lasting peace all over the world. Thank you, Mr. President.

President:
I thank the representative of Serbia for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Timor-Leste.

Timor-Leste:
Thank you, Mr. President. Congratulations to Slovenia for the presidency and for the opportunity to address this important open debate. Thank also to the briefers for their insights. As a nation that has emerged from conflict and resilience, Timor-Leste stands as a testament to the transformative power of peacekeeping efforts. Our journey towards stability has profoundly shaped our understanding of the critical role the United Nations plays in fostering peace and security worldwide. Mr. President, we are compelled to advocate for strengthening UN peacekeeping initiatives. recognizing their essential contribution to conflict prevention and promotion of sustainable development. Timor-Leste’s endorsement of robust and effective peacekeeping operations stems from our first-hand experiences with post-conflict recovery. The United Nations missions in Timor-Leste played a pivotal role in our transition to independence, ensuring security, facilitating nation-building, and establishing democratic institutions. First, we emphasize the importance of adaptability and responsiveness to unique challenges faced by each mission. A multifaceted approach that integrates military, political, and humanitarian strategies is crucial to address the complexities of contemporary conflicts. Second, we also urge the incorporation of gender perspectives in peacekeeping efforts, recognizing the critical role women play in peace processes and community building. Greater representation of women in peacekeeping missions fosters inclusive dialogue and enhances effectiveness. Timor-Leste is committed to promote gender equality in all aspects of peace and security and advocates for policies that empower women and marginalized communities. Third, we recognize the necessity for greater collaboration between the UN and the regional organizations, as others have mentioned. We also want to point to the fact that local actors and insights and cultural competencies are invaluable assets in peacekeeping efforts. Fourth, the mandates need to be adaptive and flexible to allow them to respond to evolving conflicts. And fifth, there is a need to leverage new tools and methods in technology and innovation to cope with the changing technological developments. Mr. President, as we reflect on our path towards peace, Timor-Leste remains dedicated to supporting the UN’s missions. to maintain global peace and security. We call upon the international community to reaffirm its commitment to peacekeeping, ensuring resources, personnel, and strategies reflecting the diverse challenges of our world. To end, Mr. President, Timor-Leste stands firm in its belief that strong, accountable, and effective UN peacekeeping is vital for sustainable development. By learning from our history and advocating for innovative solutions, we can contribute to a future where all nations can thrive in stability and cooperation, free from the shadows of conflict. I thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of Timor-Leste for their statement. I give the floor to the representative of Nigeria.

Nigeria:
Thank you, Mr. President. And, Mr. President, let me also express my delegation’s appreciation to you for convening this open debate on an important issue as strengthening UN peacekeeping, one of the most effective tools available to the UN in the promotion and maintenance of international peace and security over the years. We also thank all the briefers for their insightful contributions. Mr. President, Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to the principles and objectives of UN peacekeeping has been deeply rooted in our continuous contributions to various UN missions since the 1960s, in addition to our national efforts towards achieving peace in the subregion. As we reflect on the future of UN peacekeeping, we must adapt our strategies to the evolving nature of global conflicts and the changing dynamics on the ground. This will enable us to navigate the challenges and chart a course towards a world where peace isn’t the exception but the norm. In the same vein, we urge the Secretary General – I mean, we urge the Security Council to ensure that UN peace operations, apart from being fit for purpose, adopt flexible and responsive mandates tailored to each mission’s unique circumstances and in line with agreed common grounds among all relevant stakeholders, including member states, host countries, neighboring nations, and troops and police-contributing countries. This inclusive approach is essential for building the necessary political support and ensuring that peace operations are aligned with the political solutions they are designed to facilitate, while at the same time enabling peacekeepers to maintain the core principle of impartiality and the protection of civilians. Mr. President, peacekeeping operations need clear mandates. As such, the Security Council should ensure that peacekeeping mandates are clear, realistic, and achievable when defining strategic objectives. This involves prioritizing the sequencing task in a manner that aligns with the broader peace-building efforts and the specific needs of the host countries. In addition, when devising mandates, it is essential to strike an optimal balance between upholding the Security Council’s prerogatives under the UN Charter and respecting the sovereignty of host countries. The Charter – sorry, the views of the local communities, including women, children, and youths, must also be considered to ensure that peacekeeping efforts are reflective of the needs of these most affected groups in conflict. Recognizing that regional organizations are crucial in creating a conducive political environment for peace operations. We urge the Security Council to enhance its collaboration with regional bodies who leverage on their local expertise and influence to promote sustainable peace and stability. In addition to partnership with regional groups, my delegation supports the call by the President and Chief Executive Officer of the International Peace Institute, Zaid Al-Hussein, and many speakers on the need for the Security Council to be a strategic partner of the African Union, having majority of the security challenges of the continent before the Council. In addition to regional ownership, peacekeeping should be devoid of geopolitical influence, which undermines the peace processes. For Africa’s greater participation in the decision involving the continent, it needs to sit in the Council. We therefore call for the reform of the U.N. security architecture to be more inclusive and democratic. In conclusion, while urging greater political unity within the Security Council with a view to overcoming political divisions that often hinder the effectiveness of peacekeeping missions, we call on the Council to make U.N. peacekeeping more people-centered and continue supporting inclusive peace processes involving women, children, and youth. These groups are not just beneficiaries of peace but key actors in sustaining it. Nigeria, Mr. President, stands ready to work alongside the Security Council and all member states to strengthen U.N. peacekeeping and to ensure that it remains a vital tool for maintaining international peace and security in the years to come. I thank you for listening.

President:
I thank the representative of Nigeria for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Somalia.

Somalia:
Mr. President, at the outset, allow me to congratulate you on the assumption of the Presidency of the Council for this month, and I also want to thank you for convening this important debate. I also want to thank the Undersecretary General for Peace Operations and the President and the CEO of International Peace Institute and the President and CEO of International Crisis Group for their briefings, valuable briefings. UN peacekeeping is vital for maintaining peace operations. Its presence can help prevent conflicts from escalating and contributes to a sustainable peace and development. Currently, peace operations face numerous challenges that can hinder their effectiveness and the ability to execute their mandate. In this vein, I wish to make the following three points. First, cooperation with regional and sub-regional organizations, in particular the African Union, is a touchstone of the work of the United Nations. It’s essential to continue to strengthen this AU-UN partnership, including the operationalization of the UN Security Council Resolution of 2719, to advance leveraging of respective strength and resources to address complex security challenges and promote peace and stability in African continent. Second, it’s imperative that we foster a strong, continuous dialogue among all stakeholders. The engagement with host country early in the planning process can help build trust and ownership. making future peacekeeping operations more relevant and effective. Moreover, clear and well-articulated political objectives, including an exit strategy, can assist in mobilization resources effectively while aligning strategies with realities on the ground and setting immeasurable benchmarks for progress. Third, police and troop-contributing countries operate in some of the most challenging environments around the world, often in complex security situations and humanitarian crises. To effectively fulfill their mandate and ensure the safety and stability of the vulnerable populations, it is imperative that they receive the adequate, predictable, and sustainable funding. Equally important in the pursuit of lasting peace and stability in conflict-affected countries, we must be mindful that the national interests of troop-contributing countries can overshadow collective commitment to stability and sometimes lead to political outcomes that resemble annexation. Therefore, encouraging troop-contributing countries to adhere to international law and regional frameworks, including respecting the territorial integrity of the host country, will not only strengthen the effectiveness of the peacekeeping operations, but also contribute to a more sustainable peace. In conclusion, it is crucial that we foster a sense of unity and shared responsibility in order to align our strategies and reinforce our commitment. This will enhance the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations in the unique context of the world. of evolving threats in which they operate. I thank you again.

President:
I thank the representative of Somalia for their statement. I give the floor to the representative of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh:
Mr. President, I thank you for convening this important debate today. I also thank the distinguished briefers for their insightful presentations. Mr. President, peacekeeping missions have recently faced a host of serious setbacks. We have noted lack of political will and trust deficits in some major peacekeeping missions. Attacks against the peacekeepers, spread of misinformation and disinformation, and increased terrorist and IED threats are negatively affecting the performance of the peacekeepers and also causing serious harms to the image of the peacekeeping missions and the United Nations as a whole. As noted by the Secretary General in the new Agenda for Peace, the gap between United Nations peacekeeping mandates and what these missions can actually deliver in practice has become apparent. To overcome this gap, the peacekeeping operations would require significant revamping, taking into account the need for context-oriented and tailored missions so that it can truly be fit for purpose. Mr. President, let me share a few points in this regard. First, the primacy of politics in the prevention, mediation, and resolution of conflicts needs to be upheld. In this regard, the role of peacekeeping missions needs to remain supportive, aimed at facilitating the sustainable political solution in the host country guided by a well-defined political strategy. Second, exit strategies and transitions of peace operations need to be planned early in an integrated manner to achieve successful mission drawdowns. A comprehensive and coordinated approach among the peace operations UN country team host government and civil society actors is essential to ensure a smooth transition and sustaining peace. The recent experiences showed us the process was extremely difficult. Even for the peacekeepers themselves, the exit was not safe. Necessary coordination with the host authorities, including a proper assessment of their capacity to protect the civilians, need to be made before such an exit actually takes place. The adoption of UNSC Resolution 2719 of 2023 on financing of African Union-led peace support operations has been an encouraging development. Further collaboration may be encouraged between the UN and national, regional, and international peacekeeping training networks, initiatives, and institutions through smart pledging, co-deployments, and multinational rotations. Bangladesh has already been facilitating such partnerships with new and emerging contributors. For example, we have pledged to co-deploy troops from the Gambia, which was announced in the last peacekeeping ministerial conference in Accra in December 2023. We have also donated a remotely operated vehicle, ROV, to the friendly country of Peru for explosive deactivation in the peace operations, and also provided support to them for their capacity building and training. Finally, and most importantly, to ensure maintaining of high standard UN peace operations, we need to make sincere efforts in setting a realistic mandate coupled with capabilities and resources essential for effective delivery of the same. This can be done in the best way if all relevant stakeholders are consulted and their inputs are adequately considered in the context of evolution of conflict. Mr. President, ahead of the Summit of the Future, it is an opportunity for us to explore and incorporate ideas. how UN peacekeeping missions can operate in a new environment, how the missions can be designed, deployed and supported, and how the UN and Member States can build effective and deep partnerships to facilitate appropriate and context-specific peace operation. I thank you, Mr. President.

President:
I thank the representative of Bangladesh for their statement. I give the floor to the representative of Turkey.

Turkey:
Thank you, Mr. President. I also thank the briefers for their insightful remarks. The United Nations peacekeeping framework remains a key tool of international peace and security. UN peacekeeping missions play a vital role in stabilizing volatile regions and protecting civilians in some of the world’s most challenging environments. The evolving nature of conflicts in recent decades requires a shift from traditional peacekeeping models. The Action for Peacekeeping Plus initiative has strengthened our collective efforts. We also welcome the advancements in the women’s peace and security agenda and support the increasing role of women in peacekeeping. Despite these advancements, a significant gap persists between the mandates of peacekeeping missions and their actual capabilities. The Secretary General’s new Agenda for Peace provides a timely and crucial roadmap for making the peacekeeping fit for purpose. To ensure success, peacekeepers must be adequately trained, equipped, and provided with realistic mandates that address current needs. We must learn from the past experiences and develop integrated exit strategies to minimize the risk of conflict relapse or escalation. Mr. President, the partnership between the UN and the African Union is key to addressing the complex and transboundary security challenges the African continent is faced with. We believe that this UN Security Council Resolution 2179 is a significant step forward to strengthen Africa’s own capabilities to respond to those challenges. Mr. President, Turkey has a long history of contributing to the UN peacekeeping operations. We have participated in numerous missions across the globe. Turkey currently contributes a corvette in addition to military and police personnel to ongoing peacekeeping operations. While the practice of UN peacekeeping has evolved significantly over the years, three fundamental principles remain central to its success – consent of the parties, impartiality and the non-use of force except in self-defence and defence of the mandate. It is indeed clearly stated in the Brahimi Report that the consent of the local parties and impartiality should remain the bedrock principles of peacekeeping. As specified also in the UN Peacekeeping Operations Principles and Guidelines, in the absence of such consent, a peacekeeping operation risks becoming a party to the conflict and being drawn away from its inherent role of keeping the peace. In this context, we would like to underline the need for the UN to seek the consent of the Turkish Cypriot side regarding the activities of ANFISIP and to remain impartial. In response to the widespread attacks against the Turkish Cypriot people by the Greek Cypriot side, the Security Council decided to deploy a peacekeeping force on the island in 1964. This clearly demonstrates that the Cyprus issue did not originate in 1974, as is often misleadingly and conveniently claimed. Amfisip was not successful in stopping the mass attacks on the Turkish Cypriot population between 1963 and 1974. The reasons that compelled Turkey as a guarantor power to intervene in 1974 in accordance with the Treaty of Guarantee of 1960 are well known and documented. These include 11-year-long atrocities targeting the Turkish Cypriots, and the destruction of the partnership state by the Greek Cypriots, as well as the coup d’etat on 15 July 1974 aiming to annex Cyprus to Greece. It was this intervention that prevented further attacks on the Turkish Cypriots. Mr. President, Turkey reaffirms its commitment to the UN peacekeeping reform and effective implementation of peacekeeping mandates. I thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of Turkey for their statement. I give the floor to the representative of Haiti.

Haiti:
Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, I have the honor of taking the floor on behalf of the Haitian delegation at this Security Council debate on UN peacekeeping operations on the theme Strengthening UN Peacekeeping Reflections for the Future. This is a theme which carefully reminds us of the eminent role played by UN peacekeeping operations in the implementation of the organization’s goals pertaining to the restoration of security and stability in conflict zones. My delegation avails itself of this opportunity to congratulate the Slovenian Presidency on its month of September, and we wish you every success. Mr. President, in accordance with its founding charter, The UN is the body that bears the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. As such, peacekeeping operations are one of the main instruments that the organization has to discharge that mandate. Indeed, throughout history, over 50 peacekeeping operations have been deployed throughout the world and hundreds of thousands of troops and police, including civilians from many different countries, have participated in these missions. This widespread participation bears witness to states’ desire to contribute to ensuring that the decisions taken by the UN are effective, particularly those of the Security Council, when it comes to assisting states who are in political or security situations which are challenging. In this regard, we commend the report of the Special Committee on PKOs A-78-19. That report covers the substantive session of 2024 of the Committee. We take note of the proposals and recommendations made in that report, namely recommendations on the need to strengthen coordination and the coherence of the action undertaken by host governments, peacekeeping operations, resident coordinators, UN country teams, the Peacebuilding Commission, donor countries, regional and sub-regional organizations, regional and international financial institutions, and other relevant stakeholders, in order to improve the planning and provision of support to peacebuilding efforts in line with priorities and needs which are set at a national level. Moreover, we note with interest the recommendations made on the conduct of peacekeeping operations personnel. In our view, that is a decisive factor when it comes to building lasting trust between the United Nations and the people of host countries. Mr. President, my delegation wishes to once again thank the Security Council for the unwavering support it shows to the Haitian people, who for a number of years now have been in a difficult security and political situation, a situation which has severely affected the country in all its facets. In this regard, the Council’s decision to authorize the deployment of the multinational security support mission to Haiti has demonstrated that not only did the Council hear the cry of the Haitian people, but also that it heeded the prerogatives set forth in Chapter 7 of the UN Charter. However, we must remain cognizant that the challenges facing the MSS, the Afformative Mission, are sizable, and that mission’s success involves undoubtedly the support of all Member States. Quite clearly, the MSS is not a traditional UN force, but that in no way makes it less of a Council product. We should add that the Haitian people do not make distinctions between types of UN force. Its only aspiration is to move freely, send its children to school, and go about its daily business. To this end, the Haitian people are counting on the MSS to achieve those goals. My delegation calls upon the international community to do more in order to make the MSS a success story. Thank you.

President:
I thank the representative of Haiti for their statement. I give the floor to the representative of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka:
Mr. President, may I congratulate Slovenia on assuming the mantle of the Presidency of the Security Council for the month of September. I must also congratulate USGU La Croix and his team for their commitment to peacekeeping. Permit me to offer some reflections, as briefly as I could, of what we believe should be taken into account to shape the future of UN peacekeeping, to which Sri Lanka contributes in a very meaningful manner. We believe that in addressing the evolving nature of conflicts, we must shift from interstate to intrastate conflicts. Why do I say that? Modern conflicts, we will appreciate, are more frequently interstate, involving non-state actors, militias or extremist groups, often fuelled by ethnic, religious or economic tensions. We are today facing hybrid threats and asymmetrical warfare. Peacekeeping missions, in our considered view, need to grapple with hybrid threats, including cyber warfare, terrorism, organized crime, which complicates the traditional peacekeeping model. Mr. President, we also need to strengthen local ownership and capacity building. We do this by empowering local institutions. A successful peacekeeping mission requires building local capacities in governance, local law enforcement and judicial systems. We also believe that community engagement is crucial for long-term stability. Peacekeepers must work closely with community leaders, civil society and local populations to foster trust, respect and inclusive solutions. A necessary must, Mr. President, is the integration of new technologies by the use of surveillance and data analysis. Advances in technologies such as drones, satellite imagery, artificial intelligence can greatly enhance peacekeeping missions by improving surveillance, data collection and situational awareness in conflict zones. Digital threats and cyber security is a must again. Peacekeepers need to be prepared for digital threats, including disinformation campaigns and cyber attacks, which can undermine peace efforts. Incorporating cyber security, therefore, strategies and countering misinformation must be prioritized. Let me say a word about fostering political solutions. Diplomatic and political support Peacekeeping missions are only as successful, Mr. President, as the political processes behind them. The UN must ensure that peacekeepers are deployed with strong, realistic mandates that support political solutions, including mediation, dialogue, and reconciliation. Sustained engagement with regional organizations involving regional and sub-regional organizations in the peacekeeping process can bring local expertise, political leverage, and resources, partnerships with bodies like the African Union or ASEAN should be strengthened. We must also endeavor to ensure mandate clarity and set realistic goals. Clear and achievable mandates should be our objective. One of the biggest challenges facing UN peacekeeping, perhaps, is the complexity of the mandates, which are sometimes vague and overly ambitious. So future missions, therefore, need mandates that are clear, focused, and aligned. The protection of civilians must be given its highest priority. The protection of civilians remains a core mandate, but it should be tailored to the specific risks and dynamics of the conflict. It is also important that we ensure sustainable peace and long-term developments by linking peacekeeping to development goals. Why do I say that? Because the relationship between peacekeeping and long-term development needs to be strengthened. Sustainable peace requires not only the cessation of violence, but also efforts to address poverty, inequality, and access to resources. When it comes to post-conflict peacebuilding, Mr. President, peacekeeping missions should focus on not only ending immediate violence, but also facilitating post-conflict recovery, including infrastructure rebuilding, economic development, and social construction. Gender sensitivity and women’s participation has been spoken of in ample measure. Environmental sustainability. UN peacekeeping must lead by example in reducing its environmental footprint. especially in fragile ecosystems. Addressing environmental conflicts is also important. Let me say a word on enhanced accountability on human rights. A policy of zero tolerance for misconduct must be adopted. Human rights monitoring, peacekeepers should play a stronger role in monitoring human rights violations and ensuring justice is served. I cannot but emphasize the aspect of financial sustainability and resource efficiency. Given budget constraints, peacekeeping missions need to be more resource efficient. This includes a better allocation of personnel and equipment, avoiding duplication of efforts, and ensuring that financial resources are used effectively. Mr. President, in conclusion, UN peacekeeping faces a rapidly evolving global landscape with new and complex challenges. The future of peacekeeping requires clear mandates, political backing, local ownership, and the integration of new technologies of gender-sensitive approaches. By focusing on sustainability, accountability, and adaptability, UN peacekeeping can remain an essential tool for maintaining global peace and security in the coming years. I thank you, Mr. President.

President:
I thank the representative of Sri Lanka for their statement. And I give the floor to the representative of Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia:
Mr. President, at the outset, I would like to congratulate you on presiding over the Council during this month. I thank you for convening this important meeting at a critical time when we are facing growing security challenges on the global level. We all share a collective responsibility in guaranteeing the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations and their adaptation with evolving circumstances. I also thank their excellencies for their valuable briefings. which highlight the current challenges facing UN peacekeeping. Mr. President, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a founding member of the United Nations. It is keen on allowing the organization to achieve its goals through our generous support to the organization and its various agencies since their inception. The principles of our foreign policy aim at supporting the international legitimacy to maintain international peace and security, to settle differences peacefully, and to prevent resorting to force or threatening thereof. All these are principles and baselines for the work of UN peacekeeping missions. Mr. President, peacekeeping forces, since their creation, represent the cornerstone of our efforts to maintain international peace and security. In light of the new challenges facing these forces, we should all endeavor to strengthen peacekeeping operations and guarantee the safety and security of their personnel. We reaffirm that these missions are not only peacekeeping tools, but also platforms to achieve lasting political settlements. Mr. President, the Security Council should enhance the continuing and collective political support to peacekeeping operations. Cooperation with member states, regional organizations, and local stakeholders is a decisive element for creating a peace-conducive environment. Through our collective commitment, we can address future challenges and guarantee that peacekeeping operations are more prepared and capable of facing the accelerating developments. In conclusion, Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, against the backdrop of the recent developments in the Middle East, particularly the recent events in Gaza. We cannot ignore the vital role played by UN staff in conflict zones. We have incurred heavy losses among international staff members. This is a painful reminder of the immense challenges faced by UN staff members while undertaking their peacekeeping missions. The protection of these personnel is not only a moral responsibility, rather a necessity to guarantee the success of our efforts in peacekeeping. Promoting the safety and security of UN personnel is paramount to allow them to undertake their mission effectively, whether in peacekeeping or in providing humanitarian assistance. In this context, the Security Council should deliver on its pivotal role in protecting international peace and security. The Council should develop more effective strategies that provide a safe environment to peacekeeping forces to guarantee their protection and to protect peacekeeping operations from the challenges that hinder sustainable peace. Thank you, President. I thank the representative of Saudi Arabia for their statement. There are no more names inscribed on my list. I would like to thank profoundly our briefers and all speakers for their contribution today and for their proposals.

President:
If there was one consensus today, it was about the importance, essential importance, of the peacekeeping operations for the United Nations and for the peace and security in the world. I would like to thank everyone for making it possible to conclude this meeting today. And my thanks go especially to the interpreters for their patience. and for their professionalism. The meeting is adjourned.