UN to Cut 25% of Peacekeeping Troops Amid U.S. Funding Reductions

NEW YORK - The United Nations has announced plans to reduce its global peacekeeping force by 25%, a move prompted by significant U.S. funding cuts under President Donald Trump’s foreign aid reduction plan.

According to a senior UN official, between 13,000 and 14,000 troops and police officers will be withdrawn from the organization’s nine active peacekeeping missions in the coming months. The cuts will impact several regions, including Africa and the Middle East, with the Somalia mission among those expected to be most affected.

Currently, the UN maintains around 50,000 uniformed personnel across its peacekeeping operations. The new directive also includes a 15% reduction in the UN’s military budget for the current fiscal year, as part of broader cost-saving measures.

The largest missions - including those in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), South Sudan (UNMISS), Lebanon (UNIFIL), Cyprus (UNFICYP), and Kosovo (UNMIK) - are expected to undergo significant troop drawdowns.

The decision comes amid growing concerns about the impact of reduced peacekeeping capacity on conflict zones already facing instability and humanitarian crises. Analysts warn that troop cuts could weaken fragile security gains and limit the UN’s ability to protect civilians in volatile regions.

Despite these concerns, UN leadership has defended the move as a necessary adjustment to shifting global priorities and funding realities, emphasizing that peacebuilding and local capacity-building efforts will remain central to the organization’s mission.