UN peacekeeping chief: US remains 'significant partner' despite $3 billion debt

UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix said in an interview with France 24 that the United States continues to be "a very significant partner" to UN peacekeeping, despite Washington owing roughly $3 billion in outstanding dues.

Speaking at UN headquarters in New York, Lacroix said the US "is and will be and has been a critical partner" to peacekeeping efforts, even though the US Congress has yet to decide on future funding levels. He declined to offer a firm prediction, saying only that he remains hopeful the partnership will continue.

Funding gaps hit capacity

Lacroix acknowledged that financial constraints, particularly over the past year, forced the UN to cut about 25 percent of its peacekeeping capacity. Still, he defended the value of such missions, pointing out that their total cost this year amounts to just 0.2 percent of global military spending.

He said he is only asking for resources that match the mandates given by the UN Security Council, warning that ending missions prematurely has severe consequences for local populations, citing examples from Mali, Haiti and Darfur.

Lebanon mission in focus

The interview also addressed UNIFIL, the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, which is set to wind down by the end of the year. The UN has presented the Security Council with an option to maintain a continued presence in Lebanon at the request of Lebanese authorities, a proposal opposed by Israel. Lacroix said the key point is that Lebanon needs international support.