The UN will cut a quarter of peacekeepers worldwide due to a lack of funds

The United Nations is preparing to cut a quarter of its peacekeeping personnel in nine operations worldwide. The reason is a lack of funds, and future funding from the United States remains uncertain.

Financial Challenges

In the coming months, the UN plans to repatriate about 25% of peacekeeping troops and police, as well as their equipment. This will also affect a significant number of civilian personnel. According to an anonymous source at the UN, this involves 13,000–14,000 military and police personnel.

The US, the largest donor to UN peacekeeping operations, provides more than 26% of the funding. China follows, contributing almost 24%. These payments are mandatory, but the US has already accumulated a debt of $1.5 billion by the start of the new fiscal year on July 1. The total amount of Washington’s unpaid bills has exceeded $2.8 billion.

Funding Uncertainty

The US informed the UN of an upcoming payment of $680 million, but the US mission to the UN did not comment. In August, President Donald Trump unilaterally canceled about $800 million in peacekeeping funding planned for 2024 and 2025. The White House Office of Management and Budget proposed canceling funding for 2026, citing failures in operations in Mali, Lebanon, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Global Consequences

Peacekeeping operations that may be affected are conducted in South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, Kosovo, Cyprus, the Central African Republic, Western Sahara, the demilitarized zone of the Golan Heights between Israel and Syria, as well as in Abyei — an administrative area jointly managed by South Sudan and Sudan.

These changes could impact stability in regions where the UN presence plays a key role. Funding issues remain open, and the future of peacekeeping missions depends on decisions that will be made soon.