New York: Europe and the Arabs
In a world where conflicts are increasingly complex and trust between parties is declining, how can the United Nations adapt peacekeeping operations and special political missions to be more effective tools in pursuing lasting political solutions? What historical lessons should be learned to strengthen the organization's ability to meet new challenges?
These two questions were the focus of a Security Council meeting held on Tuesday. Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix emphasized that the deliberations came at a crucial time, with a comprehensive review of the future of all forms of UN peacekeeping operations. According to the UN Daily News, he explained that the goal, in accordance with the Charter for the Future, is to provide strategic, future-oriented recommendations to strengthen peace operations and adapt UN tools to meet evolving needs.
He noted that peacekeeping operations have proven to be "critical tools" in advancing peace processes and supporting sustainable political solutions by providing security guarantees, facilitating inclusive dialogue, and supporting national transitions. He recalled that these missions have facilitated the transition from civil war to lasting peace in countries such as Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Côte d'Ivoire. Challenges of Conflict Environments and Fragile Progress
However, Lacroix acknowledged that conflict resolution and mediation are “an inherently complex and uncertain endeavor,” as UN missions are often deployed in highly volatile environments where political processes are faltering, trust between conflicting parties is low, and the humanitarian situation is dire.
He described progress as “gradual, fragile, and uneven,” emphasizing that even modest gains can be crucial in preventing a relapse into widespread violence and saving lives.
Three Critical Areas for Enhancing Effectiveness
To ensure peacekeeping missions are effective in achieving political solutions, the Under-Secretary-General highlighted three critical areas:
First, the role of the Security Council, not only in mandating missions but also in providing ongoing support on the ground. He emphasized that “when the Council speaks collectively, the legitimacy of peacekeeping operations and the political processes they support is enhanced.”
Second, UN missions and their leadership should act as “permanent and steadfast ambassadors of peace.”
Third, close coordination with regional and subregional actors, whose political influence and proximity to crises can be crucial to shaping positive political outcomes.
Fourth, more effectively leveraging the investments of troop- and police-contributing countries.
Protection and Political Solutions: Two Inseparable Approaches
Lacroix noted that peacekeeping missions have been at the forefront of supporting local peace initiatives, emphasizing that sustainable peace remains elusive when people feel threatened. He emphasized that "protection creates space for political solutions, and political solutions, in turn, reinforce protection," calling for a simultaneous political and protectionist approach.
Strengthening Special Political Missions
The Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, Martha Poopie, addressed the Security Council on behalf of the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, highlighting the pivotal role of UN special political missions in assisting Member States navigate political transitions and promoting peace and security. Bobbie highlighted historical successes, citing the UN's support for South Africa in ending apartheid. The UN mission there fostered the national peace agreement and helped monitor the elections that ushered in a multiracial, democratic society with the election of Nelson Mandela.
Lessons Learned
Bobby offered five key lessons from this rich history:
First, missions were often time-bound and focused on priority political tasks.
Second, they were characterized by their proactive use of the Secretary-General's good offices.
Third, these missions sometimes arose with the support of the Security Council, and at other times were the result of the Secretary-General's discreet expansion of diplomatic space away from the spotlight.
Fourth, most were flexible, easily deployed, and relatively cost-effective.
Fifth, the political work and good offices of these missions were based on the consent of member states, essential in a time of growing skepticism toward external actors. Complex Challenges and an Evolving Conflict Landscape
In contrast, Bobbie noted that peace operations today face a complex and evolving conflict landscape. Non-state armed groups continue to proliferate, and new technologies, from artificial intelligence to drones, present both opportunities and risks when used as weapons. Transnational factors of conflict, such as organized crime and the impact of climate change, are on the rise.
While these threats converge, growing geostrategic competition makes international cooperation more difficult, calling for reflection on the future of peace operations.
Three Priorities for Enhancing Effectiveness
Based on these challenges, Bobbie identified three key priorities for increasing the effectiveness of special political missions in the new era:
Redoubling Diplomacy and Peacemaking: She emphasized that politics, diplomacy, and dialogue are the core of the UN’s work and its best tools for resolving conflicts and building confidence. She cited Syria as an example, where changes in political circumstances have altered the horizons of diplomacy, prompting Special Envoy Geir Pedersen to engage in supporting an inclusive political transition. Responding to host countries' needs and ensuring support: In this regard, she emphasized the need for missions to be responsive to the needs of host countries and receive their support.
Adapting to a political focus: She called for the design of special political missions that are flexible while maintaining their primary political focus. She noted the Council's ability to design innovative missions, from eliminating chemical weapons in Syria to promoting accountability for ISIS crimes in Iraq, emphasizing that political missions, regardless of their form, are fundamentally aimed at pursuing political solutions.

Will is crucial to maintaining peace
The Security Council also heard a briefing from Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, President of the International Peace Institute. He reminded the Council that when there is political will, the United Nations can play a crucial role in maintaining peace and security, even in the midst of geopolitical crises.
Drawing on history, he highlighted UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld's leadership during the 1958 Middle East crisis. Despite Cold War tensions and Council deadlock, Hammarskjöld creatively expanded UN observer missions and negotiated diplomatic solutions in Lebanon and Jordan.
Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein emphasized the importance of proactive UN leadership, collective diplomacy, and a dynamic exchange of ideas within and outside the organization. He concluded by stating that while the challenges facing our world today are diverse, the core lessons of diplomacy—creativity, courage, and cooperation—remain crucial.