Fresh concerns have emerged over the future of global peacekeeping as the United Nations and regional organisations face mounting financial and political challenges, raising fears that conflicts around the world could worsen if multilateral interventions continue to decline.
A new report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) revealed that the number of personnel deployed in multilateral peacekeeping operations has fallen by about 50 per cent over the past decade. The report warned that underfunding, geopolitical rivalries and decision-making deadlocks are weakening the ability of organisations such as the UN, the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to respond effectively to crises.
According to SIPRI, international peace operations reached their lowest level in at least 25 years by the end of 2025. A total of 78,633 personnel were deployed globally as of December 31, 2025, representing a 49 per cent decline from 2016 figures. The report noted that 2025 recorded the steepest annual drop of the decade, with personnel numbers shrinking by 17 per cent.
The institute reported that 58 multilateral peace operations were active across 34 countries and territories during 2025, three fewer than the previous year. Sub-Saharan Africa and Europe each hosted 18 missions, while the Middle East and North Africa had 14. The Americas accounted for five operations, while Asia and Oceania hosted three.
SIPRI highlighted growing reluctance among countries to finance and support UN peace missions. By July 2025, UN peacekeeping operations faced a funding gap of $2 billion, representing more than 35 per cent of the organisation’s $5.6 billion peacekeeping budget for 2024–2025. As a result, several missions were compelled to reduce personnel and scale back operations.
The report also pointed to increasing political divisions within the UN Security Council. Disagreements among permanent members complicated mandate renewals and delayed decisions on new deployments. In one instance, the United States reportedly pushed for the termination of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) despite repeated violations of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire. A compromise eventually saw the mission extended until December 2026.
In Haiti, the Security Council approved an expanded international security force and established a UN support office after efforts to convert the Multinational Security Support Mission into a fully funded UN peacekeeping operation stalled due to opposition from China and Russia.
While no new UN peacekeeping missions have been approved since 2014, regional organisations have increasingly attempted to fill the gap. However, SIPRI noted that bodies such as the AU, ECOWAS and OSCE continue to face similar obstacles, including inadequate funding and political disagreements that have hampered responses to conflicts in places such as Sudan and Ukraine.
Director of SIPRI’s Peace Operations and Conflict Management Programme, Dr. Jaïr van der Lijn, warned that the current trend could severely weaken global conflict management structures.
“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 said.
He added that the likely consequence would be an increase in conflicts and greater suffering for civilian populations as international norms come under pressure.
Senior researcher Dr. Claudia Pfeifer Cruz also noted that regional organisations lack several of the capabilities required for comprehensive peacebuilding and are constrained by the same financial and political challenges confronting the UN.
Despite these setbacks, SIPRI said support for multilateral peacekeeping remains strong among many countries. More than 130 UN member states participated in discussions on the future of peacekeeping during the Berlin Peacekeeping Ministerial held in May 2025. The report also noted that recent peace agreements, including the October 2025 Gaza peace deal, continue to incorporate provisions for international peace operations.
However, proposals for new missions or reforms to existing operations continue to face resistance due to political divisions, host-country objections and persistent funding concerns, leaving the future of global peacekeeping uncertain.