Peacekeeping Forces Hit Historic Low as Global Tensions Rise
The landscape of international peacekeeping is undergoing significant shifts, with the number of military personnel involved in these operations dropping to unprecedented levels. Recent findings from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) indicate a troubling decline in peacekeeping efforts, exacerbated by funding shortages and geopolitical challenges.
According to SIPRI’s latest report, the total number of personnel engaged in global peacekeeping operations plummeted to 78,633 by the end of December 2025. This marks a 17% decrease from the previous year and a stark 49% reduction since the end of 2016. The Swedish institute attributes this trend primarily to a funding crisis within the United Nations, driven by delayed or nonpayment of contributions from key donor nations.
Jaïr van der Lijn, director of the peace operations and conflict management program at SIPRI, sounded the alarm, stating, “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.”
The concern is not just about dwindling numbers but also about the potential consequences. Van der Lijn warned that more conflicts could arise, with civilians bearing the brunt of the impact as states move away from established peacekeeping norms.
The report highlights that the multilateral conflict management system faces severe pressure. The involvement of Russia in African conflicts is affecting security governance, while actions by the United States under President Donald Trump have undermined multilateralism. Additionally, China and Europe have shown reluctance or incapacity to uphold the multilateral framework.
In 2025, the U.S. took “significant action” to withdraw from, defund, or challenge various UN bodies, including efforts to end the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil). SIPRI noted that the UN peacekeeping budget faced a $2 billion shortfall in July 2025, with the approved budget for 2025-2026 slashed to $5.38 billion, the lowest in over a decade.
Despite the UN’s leading role in organizing peacekeeping missions, regional organizations and alliances conducted 34 operations, surpassing the UN’s 18. Claudia Pfeifer Cruz, senior researcher at SIPRI, pointed out, “Regional organizations lack key capabilities when it comes to successful, integrated peace-building, while they are also plagued by funding shortfalls and inability to reach agreement.”
Sub-Saharan Africa was the focal point for peacekeeping efforts, hosting 70% of personnel, followed by the Middle East and North Africa with 15%, and Europe with 12%. The UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (Minusca) and the UN Mission in South Sudan (Unmiss) were the largest operations last year.
SIPRI’s data also revealed that the top contributors of military and police personnel to peace operations are all from the Global South, with Uganda leading the charge with 4,657 troops, followed by Nepal, Bangladesh, and India, each providing over 4,000 troops.
The institute warned of a shrinking role for the UN in conflict management, as evidenced by the budget cuts and disagreement over closing Unifil by December 2026. The U.S. called for the mission’s termination despite ongoing ceasefire violations between Israel and Lebanon, illustrating the complex geopolitical dynamics at play.
“Financial constraints clearly accelerated the personnel reductions but were not the only factor,” SIPRI emphasized. They noted that geopolitical divisions and challenging negotiations in the Security Council complicate the continuation of existing operations and the initiation of new ones.
