Global tension and funding woes threaten peacekeeping missions, SIPRI warns

Introduction

International peacekeeping missions are under severe strain, according to a new report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The institute warns that a combination of funding shortfalls, geopolitical deadlock, and declining personnel numbers is jeopardising operations, particularly those led by the United Nations. The warning comes as the number of peacekeeping personnel worldwide has fallen to its lowest level in 25 years.

Coverage Comparison

The report has been covered by outlets with differing regional emphases. Deutsche Welle highlighted the global scale of the crisis, citing SIPRI's warning of a "perfect storm" of funding, political, and geopolitical factors. The South China Morning Post also focused on the dual threats of geopolitical tensions and funding issues, describing peacekeeping operations as being "jeopardised" by these pressures. AllAfrica, meanwhile, examined the implications for Africa, which provides more than half of all UN peacekeepers, and the continent's dependency on international support for conflict management.

Key Claims

SIPRI's report, released on Monday, found that just under 79,000 international staff were deployed in peacekeeping operations at the end of 2025, the lowest number in at least 25 years and 49% lower than in 2016, as reported by Deutsche Welle and the South China Morning Post. A total of 58 peacekeeping operations were in place in 2025, dropping below 60 for the first time since 2016, according to the South China Morning Post.

Jair van der Lijn, director of SIPRI's peace operations and conflict management programme, said in a statement: "If things continue in this way, we could see a dramatic weakening of multilateral conflict management and the near-complete sidelining of institutions like the United Nations, due to a perfect storm of funding, political and geopolitical factors." He added that the result would likely be more conflicts, with "even graver impacts on civilians as states abandon long-established norms."

The UN has been forced to make deep cuts to personnel numbers due to a $2 billion funding shortfall, as reported by Deutsche Welle, after large donor countries failed to meet their financial commitments. The report also noted that "hardline demands and veto threats from permanent members" of the UN Security Council had complicated decisions on renewing operation mandates, with the US demanding an end to the UN's Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) despite repeated ceasefire violations.

Nearly three-quarters of deployed staff were serving in five countries: Central African Republic, South Sudan, Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Lebanon, as reported by the South China Morning Post.

Perspectives

SIPRI's View

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute warns that the current trajectory could lead to a dramatic weakening of multilateral conflict management and the sidelining of institutions like the UN, resulting in more conflicts and graver impacts on civilians.

African Perspective

AllAfrica's coverage emphasises that Africa provides over half of all UN peacekeepers but contributes only 1%-2% of the UN peacekeeping budget. The outlet notes that the US has the largest outstanding arrears, with payments plummeting, and that China's role in peacekeeping has grown. African governments, the report argues, must build more accountable security systems to avoid replacing one dependency with another.

US Policy Context

Deutsche Welle reports that under President Donald Trump, the US has slashed aid programs and dialed back commitments to international organizations, contributing to the funding crisis. A US Congress decision to cap contributions at 25% of the peacekeeping budget, rather than the 26.9% obligation, has exacerbated the shortfall, according to AllAfrica.