Financial crisis: UN announces a quarter cut in peacekeeping troops

The United Nations is preparing to reduce the number of troops and police involved in its peacekeeping missions by about 25%, an unprecedented measure in the last two decades, caused by an acute lack of funds. According to senior UN officials quoted by Reuters, the decision will affect nine international operations: South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lebanon, Kosovo, Cyprus, the Central African Republic, Western Sahara, the Golan demilitarized zone (Israel-Syria) and Abyei, a region disputed between Sudan and South Sudan. The measure could mean the repatriation of 13,000-14,000 soldiers and police, as well as massive cuts in civilian and logistical staff in the field. "We will have to repatriate about a quarter of the total peacekeeping force. It is a difficult decision, but inevitable in the current financial context,” said a UN official on condition of anonymity.

• United States, the main donor delaying payments

The budget crisis has been amplified by significant delays by the United States, which is the largest contributor to peacekeeping operations, covering more than 26% of funding. According to internal UN data, Washington has arrears of more than $2.8 billion, of which $1.5 billion dates back to before the fiscal year that began on July 1, 2025. Although the US administration has promised a partial payment of $680 million, the situation remains tense. President Donald Trump's decision, which unilaterally canceled $800 million of funds intended for 2024 and 2025, has deepened the problem. Moreover, the White House Budget Office recently proposed completely eliminating funding for UN missions in 2026, citing "chronic inefficiency” of some operations, particularly in Mali, Lebanon and Congo.

• China, the second largest supporter, but with different interests

After the US, China contributes almost 24% of the peacekeeping budget, while also consolidating its geopolitical influence in Africa and the Middle East. Beijing has expanded its presence in the Central African Republic and South Sudan in recent years, where it has major investments in energy and infrastructure. "Reducing American involvement could pave the way for a reconfiguration of global leadership within the UN, where China and, to a lesser extent, India or Brazil, could play an increased role,” explained Richard Gowan, a UN policy analyst at the International Crisis Group. Among the missions at risk is MONUSCO, deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the most expensive and complex UN operations in recent decades. With more than 12,000 active troops, the mission faces recurring rebellions and an unstable political climate. In Lebanon, UNIFIL forces maintain a fragile peace line between the Lebanese army and Israel, while tensions in the south of the country are rising in the context of the conflict in Gaza. "Any reduction in personnel in an area as volatile as southern Lebanon could have direct consequences for regional stability,” warns Elena del Valle, a security policy expert at the European Center for Strategic Studies.

• Financial crisis at 80 years since the founding of the UN

The year 2025 marks 80 years of the existence of the United Nations, but the anniversary comes at a time of deep financial and institutional crisis. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued an urgent appeal to member states for "shared responsibility and global solidarity”, stressing that peacekeeping missions are "the backbone of the UN's legitimacy”. Guterres has also ordered a major audit of costs and a restructuring of mission logistics, with the aim of maintaining operational capacity even under reduced budgets. The massive reduction in UN troops is not just a financial problem, but also a symptom of the erosion of the post-war multilateral order. From the interventions in Bosnia and East Timor to the current missions in sub-Saharan Africa, the peacekeeping system has been a central instrument of international diplomacy. "If the UN loses its ability to intervene where states fail, we will see a return to the era of spheres of influence and unresolved conflicts through dialogue,” warns Mirek Dusek, executive director of the World Economic Forum. With limited funds, political pressure from major powers and a growing number of humanitarian crises, the future of UN peacekeeping operations remains uncertain. Experts estimate that without a rapid change in funding and cooperation mechanisms, the UN risks entering a new era of strategic minimalism, in which the organization will only be able to monitor conflicts, not prevent or mediate them effectively.