United States Mission to the United Nations
Office of Press and Public Diplomacy
For Immediate Release
May 28, 2021
Statement by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield on the International Day of UN Peacekeepers
On May 29th, we join the international community in commemorating the International Day of UN Peacekeepers. Since the first blue helmets were deployed more than 70 years ago, UN peacekeeping has been among the most effective tools the international community has to address the global challenges to international peace and security.
Throughout my diplomatic career, I’ve witnessed first-hand the important work peacekeepers do to protect some of the world’s most vulnerable, and the critical role they play in response to fragile and difficult global crises. Many peacekeepers serve in volatile areas under challenging circumstances, and we know that the pandemic has made their work even more difficult and dangerous this past year. The United States is deeply grateful to the women and men who serve in UN peacekeeping operations all over the world, and we honor those who have lost their lives pursing the noble cause of peace.
The United States recognizes the indispensable global good UN peacekeeping provides which is why the United States has always been – and will continue to be – the largest financial contributor to UN peacekeeping. But the value the United States places on UN peacekeeping operations doesn’t end with our assessed dues in New York; the United States is also the global leader in providing bilateral peacekeeping assistance to UN troop- and police- contributing countries. We’ve invested more than $1.5 billion over the last 15 years to bolster UN troop- and police- contributing countries’ ability to contribute to UN peacekeeping missions – making sure countries have the capacity to effectively prepare, deploy, and sustain UN peacekeepers and providing training and equipment to help enhance peacekeeper safety and security.
The United States will continue to champion efforts to strengthen and reform UN peacekeeping operations, and we remain committed to ensuring UN peacekeepers have what they need to be safe, secure, and successful in carrying out their missions.
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