29.07.2025 Statement by Denmark at UNSC briefing on UN Peace Operations

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Thank you, Mr. President,

Let me also thank USG Lacroix, ASG Pobee and IPI President Al Hussein for their briefings and most importantly, their recommendations.

Four months ago, during Denmark’s Presidency of the Council, we convened a high-level open debate on Advancing Adaptability in UN Peace Operations. This debate heard from a wide range of speakers, including TCCs, host countries, donors, civil society and the UN system. Many recommendations were put forward, however the need to ensure sustained, unified and coherent political support for peace operations stood out.

Let me therefore commend Pakistan for highlighting this key aspect today, as part of our Trio collaboration along with the Republic of Korea.

We see this discussion as an important continuation, as we intensify our collective efforts to adapt UN Peace Operations to new challenges, including in the context of UN80.

Mr. President,

As the United Nations continues to evolve in the face of complex conflicts, the future of peace operations must be shaped based on one central principle: that political solutions are the only path to sustainable peace.

Allow me to focus on three recommendations to this end.

First, putting politics at the centre means embedding political strategies into the DNA of every mandate and every mission.

Peace operations must be more than crisis responders. They must be active facilitators of dialogue, reconciliation, and inclusive governance. Prevention is key to tackling the drivers of conflict and finding political solutions.

In practice, this means aligning mandates with achievable political objectives, driven by the realities on the ground, not just by institutional templates. For the Secretariat, it requires investment in mediation, planning and preventive analysis. For missions, it requires a leadership that can execute a “good office” role through flexible diplomatic engagement.

Second, Mr. President,

At the Security Council, it is our responsibility to provide strategic direction and coherence. Too often, missions are stretched across a wide range of tasks without the necessary focus or coordination.

The Council must ensure mandates are political in purpose, prioritised, and matched by realistic expectations. Troop and Police Contributing Countries also need to be fully engaged as political partners, with a view of the mission’s political goals beyond the security dimension.

Third, Mr President,

Mandates are nothing more than words on paper if they are not matched with resources and capabilities. This includes relevant political expertise and mediation capacity; civil and political affairs officers; gender and human rights advisors; and climate, peace and security advisors. Military or police components are also needed, depending on the character of the mission. So are flexible funding mechanisms. But it also requires a certain risk appetite – as we heard this morning - from the Secretariat and from the Council.

Some missions have already shown the value of these tools. Take for example MINUSCA’s support in preparing for peaceful, accountable and transparent elections in the Central African Republic – as was also highlighted by USG Lacroix – or UNMISS’s local peace dialogues in South Sudan. These successes have illustrated how capabilities beyond force can deliver meaningful political impact.

However, we must also acknowledge the constraints: unpredictable funding, limited civilian staffing, short mission planning cycles, and uneven support from the Council have often hampered effectiveness.

To succeed, these operations need to retain and strengthen their comparative advantage. Their neutrality, legitimacy, and a unique ability to link security, political, humanitarian, and development efforts under one roof. And a certain risk appetite, as was mentioned earlier.

Mr. President,

In closing, to effectively deliver on peace, we must empower peace operations as political tools. Backed by the right strategies, the right support, and the right capabilities.

This issue goes far beyond resources and depends on the continued political will and commitment of all involved parties – including this Council, the TCCs, host countries and last, but certainly not least by the Secretariat and the Secretary-General, whose ongoing support is vital.

Thank you.