UN Peacekeeping at a Crossroads: Troop Contributing Nations Call for Reform Amid Funding Cuts and Complex Threats

As India hosted the United Nations Troop Contributing Countries’ (UNTCC) Chiefs Conclave in the capital on Tuesday, military leaders from over 30 nations gathered to take stock of the evolving challenges confronting UN peacekeeping. From the frontlines of Fiji to the strategic corridors of Addis Ababa and New Delhi, a common theme resonated, peacekeeping mandates are struggling to match the complexity of today’s conflicts.

“People, Not Politics maintain Peace”: Fiji Commander’s Candid Appraisal

Setting the tone for the discussions, Brigadier General Manoa Driuvakamaka Gadai, Commander of Fiji’s Joint Task Force, offered a pointed critique of the UN’s current peacekeeping framework. Calling for a fundamental re-evaluation of mandates, he warned that bureaucratic inertia and political compromise were undermining missions and exposing peacekeepers to unnecessary risks.

“The UN missions we operate in are complex, asymmetrical, and politically volatile. Yet the mandates, authority, and equipment we are given remain less effective,” Brig Gen Gadai said.

“Every time the UN hesitates to act, peacekeepers stand exposed. We have lost too many, we have sacrificed too much. Politics do not maintain peace — it is maintained by people, by the brave men and women who stand between chaos and peace.”

His remarks struck a chord with several participating nations, highlighting a growing consensus that mandate reform and operational autonomy are essential if peacekeeping is to remain credible and effective in the years ahead.

New Threats, Old Tools: The Evolving Security Landscape

Building on the Fijian Commander’s observations, Gen Aleshmet Degife Balcha, Commander-in-Chief, Land Forces, Ethiopia, underscored the shifting nature of threats facing peacekeepers today.

“The contemporary global security environment is increasingly complex and dynamic,” he noted. “Asymmetric warfare, terrorism, cyber threats, and regional instability demand not only courage and professionalism but also enhanced collaboration and unity of purpose among troop-contributing countries.”

From Mali to Lebanon, peacekeepers are now operating in hybrid theatres where conflict lines are blurred by non-state actors, disinformation campaigns, and cross-border criminal networks, challenges that traditional mandates were never designed to handle.

Peacekeeping Faces a Fiscal Squeeze

Adding to the operational strain is a severe funding crunch. The UN has announced a 25% reduction in troop strength across nine of its eleven ongoing peacekeeping missions. The shortfall stems largely from reduced U.S. contributions, with Washington committing only USD 682 million of its USD 1.3 billion share for the 2025–26 cycle.

Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, acknowledged that the cuts could have a cascading effect on mission capabilities.

“Peacekeepers play an indispensable role,” he said. “But sustaining that role requires unity of purpose, pragmatic action, and unwavering commitment to peace.”

Budget constraints, he warned, translate directly into fewer boots on the ground and slower response times, both of which undermine the credibility of UN missions.

India Calls for Innovation and Resilience

Hosting the conclave, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi echoed the concerns of fellow commanders, noting that peacekeeping today faces “challenges of unprecedented scale and complexity.”

“The global order is at an inflexion point, marked by over 56 active conflicts and the involvement of nearly 90 nations,” Gen Dwivedi observed. “The infusion of disruptive technologies, the growing role of non-state actors, and the scourge of disinformation have blurred traditional boundaries of conflict.”

The Army Chief underlined that shrinking budgets will inevitably reshape peacekeeping.

“Reduced funding for UN missions will be a reality,” he cautioned. “Missions must be planned with fewer boots on the ground and greater reliance on technology and innovation.”

Dwivedi’s remarks align with India’s consistent advocacy for a people-centric yet tech-enabled approach, where peacekeepers are better trained, equipped, and empowered to meet contemporary operational demands.

Rebuilding Trust in the Blue Helmets

The Delhi Conclave served as a sober reminder that UN peacekeeping stands at a crossroads. The combination of underfunding, overextension, and political hesitation has placed immense strain on missions and the personnel who serve within them.

Yet, the underlying message from New Delhi was not one of despair but of determination. From Fiji’s call for decisive reform to India’s emphasis on adaptability, the conclave reflected a shared resolve among troop-contributing nations to reclaim the credibility and effectiveness of peacekeeping operations.

As Brig Gen Gadai poignantly put it, “Let peace not be maintained by politics, but by people.”

Ravi Shankar