The United Nations is facing a severe financial crisis, prompting the organization to decide on reducing 13,000 to 14,000 soldiers and police personnel from its nine ongoing peacekeeping missions worldwide in the coming months.
According to a report by Reuters on Thursday (October 9), citing a senior UN official, this reduction will account for nearly one-fourth of the total number of peacekeepers currently deployed. The move also puts many civilian staff positions at risk.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres acknowledged that the organization has fallen into a grave financial crisis as it marks its 80th anniversary. He said the UN is now exploring ways to enhance efficiency and cut costs to sustain its operations.
The United States remains the largest financial contributor to UN peacekeeping missions, providing about 26% of the total budget, followed by China with around 24%. However, the U.S. currently owes the UN approximately $2.8 billion, causing a significant funding shortfall.
Before the start of the new fiscal year, the U.S. already had $1.5 billion in arrears, which has now increased by another $1.3 billion. Although Washington has informed the UN that it plans to pay $680 million soon, the U.S. mission to the UN has not made any official comment on the matter.
Earlier in August, former U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally canceled $800 million in peacekeeping funds allocated for 2024 and 2025. His administration also proposed eliminating all UN peacekeeping funds from 2026, arguing that missions in Mali, Lebanon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo had “failed.”
The decision will impact peacekeeping operations in South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lebanon, Kosovo, Cyprus, the Central African Republic, Western Sahara, the Golan Heights (Israel–Syria border), and Abyei (border region between Sudan and South Sudan).
Notably, Bangladeshi peacekeepers are currently serving in several of these missions.
Source: Reuters