5 November 2025
The event
Which key issues were discussed
The event was organised as a follow-up to the Global Alliance for Peace Operations’ findings and input to the Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin in May 2025, which you can find attached at the bottom of the page as background reading. The follow-up discussion in New York looked back at the achievements of the Ministerial meeting, reviewed increasing challenges and provided concrete recommendations for safeguarding and strengthening UN Peace Operations in a rapidly changing (and deteriorating) environment and space for the UN and peace operations in particular. Key issues and topics included:
- Takeaways from the Berlin Ministerial and assessment of the current peacekeeping situation (Adam Smith)
- Hybrid Threats and Technology (Annika Hansen)
- Protection of Civilians (Lisa Sharland)
- Leadership in Peace Operations (Catharina Nickel)
- Partnerships in Peace Operations (Cedric de Coning)
Opening and closing input was also provided by representatives from Germany, Indonesia and Sierra Leone, all underlining the importance of strengthening global cooperation and incorporating civil society perspectives.
What is being done/to do about them
Even though all participants acknowledged the difficult headwinds (some even referred to a ‘perfect storm’) of fewer financial resources and more ad-hoc’ism, there is in the current context a pressing need to preserve (through lessons learned and best practice and contingency planning) and strengthen (by identifying missions that succeed against all the odds) peace operations in the above-mentioned fields. Speakers from India, Indonesia and Sierra Leone also underlined the continued importance of global dialogues (and mentioned explicitly GAPO) on knowledge exchange and for garnering wide-ranging support for UN peace operations at this critical moment.
What implications emerged for the UNSC and UN HQ
Participants agreed that since pledging in May 2025, more uncertainty marks the UN peace operations system. It required a careful balancing act between maintaining preparedness (including political support) and not overdemanding resources and contributions from member states that might then not be used, due to missions winding down or being adapted. However, it became clear that even new formats (such as the Haiti mission) require the expertise and continued input and leadership (formal and informal) from the Secretariat and professional peace operations community. Even if the political, financial and strategic landscape is shifting (towards ad hoc coalitions and proposals), the institutionalised expertise of the UNHQ is strongly needed.