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The United Nations (UN) will slash its global peacekeeping forces by roughly 25 percent due to severe funding shortages, largely driven by cuts to US financial contributions, a senior UN official confirmed on Wednesday.
Between 13,000 and 14,000 military and police personnel — along with their equipment — will be repatriated under the plan. A “large number” of civilian staff working across various peacekeeping missions will also be affected, the official told reporters on condition of anonymity.
The UN’s total peacekeeping budget for 2025–2026 stands at $5.4 billion. The United States was expected to contribute $1.3 billion of that amount but has now informed the UN it will provide only about half — $682 million — including $85 million allocated for a new multinational anti-gang mission in Haiti that was not part of the original budget.
China, now the second-largest contributor to UN peacekeeping, is expected to provide around $1.2 billion. However, as of July, the organisation was already grappling with nearly $2 billion in unpaid contributions. Overall, the UN anticipates a shortfall of 16 to 17 percent in the current peacekeeping budget cycle.
President Donald Trump, who returned to the White House in January, has pushed through sweeping cuts to foreign aid, arguing that international organisations have long taken advantage of US generosity.
“We know there will be consequences in terms of monitoring ceasefires, protecting civilians, and assisting humanitarian operations,” the UN official said.
The cuts will affect nine of the UN’s 11 current peacekeeping missions, including those in the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Lebanon, the Central African Republic, and Western Sahara. Each of these missions had already drawn up contingency plans for potential funding reductions.
Human rights groups warned that the troop reduction could have dire humanitarian consequences. “This potentially means a significant reduction in protection for humanitarian convoys and civilians who rely on aid,” said Louis Charbonneau of Human Rights Watch. “We hope the UN will prioritise lifesaving humanitarian and human rights activities.”
Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group noted that the severity of the cuts would vary from mission to mission but cautioned that the decision sends a worrying message. “In somewhere like South Sudan, where peacekeepers offer many civilians a little protection and there was nearly a new war this year, cutting back peacekeepers sends a very bad signal,” he said.
