07.04.2025 Statement by Denmark at the UNSC briefing on UN peacekeeping operations

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Thank you, Mr. President.

And thank also to the French presidency for organizing this timely meeting.

And let me also thank Under-Secretary General Lacroix for his briefing.

Lieutenant General Lázaro, Lieutenant General de Mesquita Gomes, I would like to specifically acknowledge your leadership in the very challenging circumstances in which UNIFIL and MONUSCO currently operate.

Denmark thanks and commends you, and through you, the brave blue helmets, for your steadfast dedication to peace.

Mr. President,

Exactly two weeks ago, this Council convened for a high-level open debate on advancing adaptability in UN Peace Operations. We heard clear calls for a move beyond “one size fits all” mandates, for modular approaches to peace operations.

Today’s briefing, in particular its narrow operational focus, is a timely continuation of that discussion.

Peacekeeping remains one of the UN’s most important tools for mitigating conflict and promoting peace and security around the globe. Historically, peacekeeping operations have played a crucial role in monitoring ceasefires in conflict. Six of the 11 existing missions continue to have this critical task as part of their mandates.

However, as we have heard, their operational environment continues to grow more complex. Today, they are facing new challenges, which require new responses and fresh thinking.

Mr. President, allow me to highlight four of these.

First,

The peacekeepers on the ground are the heart of any mission.

Their areas of operation are often dangerous, vast and remote.

Enhancing their capabilities, including through technology, should be pursued. This could include advanced surveillance cameras, drones and satellite imagery.

Such capabilities would enable far greater coverage of areas of operations often rendered inaccessible by poor weather, terrain, security issues and scarce resources.

This would in turn improve the safety and security of peacekeepers and the protection of civilians – goals that deserve the collective support of this Council.

Second,

Any UN ceasefire monitoring mechanism should be tailored to the task.

We must be taking into account the regional context, new threats such as drones, mis- and disinformation and the presence of armed groups and external actors.

Likewise, we must recognise the comparative advantage of all stakeholders, including regional organisations.

We should always consider and analyse the task at hand and systemically ask ourselves who is best suited to fulfil it.

Third,

As so many speakers highlighted during the open debate in March, we should ensure that the political support and financial resources available to peacekeeping operations match the scope of the objectives we want to achieve.

This entails coordination across the entire planning process, from this Council, over  the Secretariat to the Fifth Committee.

Fourth and finally, Mr. President, an issue that is often mentioned, but bears repeating today.

We must uphold the core principle of the primacy of politics.

Doing so will fundamentally affect both the success of individual missions and the development of peacekeeping as a whole.

Denmark’s view is clear. Peacekeeping missions cannot and should not operate in a vacuum.

They exist in support of a political objective.

They are fully dependent on political support.

Support of the Host Nation, the parties to the conflict, the Security Council, and relevant regional and international stakeholders.

These actors need to assume their responsibility from the mission’s inception and throughout its entire life cycle. And they must operate in strict compliance with international law.

Short of this, we will be setting peacekeeping up for failure.

At best, such an approach puts the UN’s reputation at risk. At worst, it puts the brave blue helmets, and those they seek to protect, at risk.

In closing, Mr. President,

Denmark looks forward to cooperate with all Council members as we seek to make peace operations more fit for purpose and ready to adapt whenever that purpose needs to change.

I thank you.

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