“Complex demands and diminishing resources are testing the limits of the current peacekeeping approaches,” warned Johann Wadephul, Germany’s Minister for Foreign Affairs at the 2025 Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin today. UN and Member State representatives met to discuss the future of peacekeeping, calling for reforms to strengthen its effectiveness and efficiency.
The meeting comes as peacekeeping faces mounting challenges: Conflicts worldwide have reached their highest levels since World War II, becoming increasingly complex and dangerous. Member States responsible for setting peacekeeping mandates have become more divided.
An investment in peace
Despite the challenges, “every UN peacekeeping [mission] is a good investment,” said Minister Wadephul. “We want UN blue helmets to remain this instrument of peace protecting millions of civilians and monitoring ceasefires.
Missions have proven effective in preventing violence before it starts, reducing it during conflicts, and preventing its recurrence once conflicts end. Their presence also directly reduces civilian casualties. Peacekeepers have helped many countries achieve durable peace, including Cambodia, Côte d’Ivoire, El Salvador, Liberia, Namibia, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and Timor-Leste.
Bigger challenges, fewer resources
Despite its track record, investment in peacekeeping is declining. Currently, just over 70,000 civilian, military and police peacekeepers are working to advance peace in 11 operations globally, serving countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lebanon, and Cyprus. In comparison, the city of Berlin alone has a police force of 26,000.
Peacekeeping’s current US$5.6 billion budget is roughly half what it was a decade ago. It represents just 0.5% of global military spending.
This funding comes from all UN Member States, with wealthier countries contributing larger shares. Even for the United States - peacekeeping’s largest donor - their assessed contribution of $1.5 billion makes up just 0.2% of their 2024 defence budget.
Yet many Member States are behind on their payments, owing a total of $2.7 billion and worsening the funding crisis.
"It is absolutely essential that all Member States meet their financial obligations by paying their contributions in full and on time," António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Adapting to a new reality
UN officials and Member States called for comprehensive reforms to adapt to these realities.
Tailoring missions to local contexts, creating more focused mandates, increasing local ownership were suggested as ways peacekeeping missions could strengthen operations. Allowing for a more flexible use of resources was raised as critical to helping missions find efficiencies. There were also impassioned calls for stronger political backing for peacekeeping missions, including from the Security Council.
“We have political divisions impacting everything we are trying to achieve as a team,” said General Birame Diop, Senegal’s Minister of Armed Forces.
Making peacekeeping fit for the future
Today, the message from UN Member States was clear: for the people peacekeepers serve, it is essential to use limited resources as effectively and efficiently as possible, ensuring missions continue their vital work.
“The value of peacekeeping is undeniable… but there is always more to do,” said Catherine Pollard, UN Under-Secretary-General for management Strategy, Policy and Compliance.
Discussions will continue tomorrow, with specialized sessions that will look at how these calls for reform can be concretely met.