NEW YORK, 21st August, 2026 (WAM) -- United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for a reset of UN peace operations to enable them to adapt to the current international environment, which is marked by increasing and more complex conflicts, escalating threats to civilians and peacekeepers, evolving warfare technologies, and mounting political and financial pressures on multilateral action.
In a report submitted to the UN Security Council and the General Assembly, Guterres noted that the world is experiencing the highest number of deadly and complex conflicts since 1945. These conflicts feature rising external interventions, the proliferation of non-state armed groups, and the interplay of conflict with terrorism, organised crime, violent extremism, and climate change.
He highlighted that UN peacekeeping operations remain an essential tool in helping conflict parties reach political solutions and implement peace agreements, calling for priority to be given to peacemaking efforts, preventive diplomacy, mediation, and political solutions.
The report urged that mandates for UN peace missions be more focused, flexible, and adaptable to shifting conflict environments. They should be paired with adequate resources, clear and measurable objectives, long-term strategic vision, and appropriate exit strategies established right from the mission planning phase.
The UN chief emphasised the importance of strengthening partnerships with host countries and regional organisations, as well as enhancing coordination across the UN system to ensure smooth transitions from mission mandates to peacebuilding, development, and stability.The report stressed the necessity of reviewing the structures, command, and control arrangements of UN peacekeeping missions, empowering mission leadership to adjust resource deployment as conditions and needs evolve.
Addressing rapid technological advancements, Guterres called for closing the technology gap in peace operations to better protect personnel and improve mission effectiveness, while tackling the operational risks posed by the use of artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, drones, and other new technologies in armed conflicts.
The report noted that resolving conflicts through peaceful means has grown significantly harder, as comprehensive peace agreements have dropped to their lowest levels in decades, leading to a heavier reliance on temporary arrangements like ceasefires and truces. While such measures reduce violence and save lives, they are often fragile and short-lived.
Geopolitical divisions among Security Council members and the wider UN membership are making collective multilateral action increasingly difficult, complicating consensus on mission deployments, mandates, and success criteria. A persistent mismatch between complex tasks and available resources further impairs missions' ability to respond to changing realities.Many missions operate in environments with severe violence, grave threats to civilians, and stalled or absent political negotiations, alongside risks from transboundary organised crime, violent extremism, and climate change.
Furthermore, peacekeepers face direct attacks, asymmetric tactics, and critical operational dangers. Guterres stressed that the protection of civilians, respect for human rights, and adherence to international law must sit at the core of peace operations, while upholding UN impartiality and ensuring accountability for those responsible for attacks on peacekeepers.
The report recommended enhancing UN capabilities to support Member States in negotiating and implementing ceasefire agreements—including in inter-state conflicts—leveraging best practices, expertise, and modern technologies.Addressing the financial crisis facing peace operations, the report noted that severe funding constraints forced thousands of peacekeepers to return home starting in autumn 2025, severely impacting mission mandate execution.
The Secretary-General concluded that the success of UN peace operations demands stronger political commitment from Member States, sustainable funding, realistic mandates, effective regional and international partnerships, and greater organisational adaptability to effectively respond to evolving security challenges.