[Asia Economy Reporter Inho Yoo] South Korea, along with major UN countries including the United States, reaffirmed their commitment to contributing to peacekeeping operations (PKO).
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 9th that the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Meeting, hosted by South Korea for the first time in Asia, gathered the commitment of various countries to UN peacekeeping operations (PKO) and concluded its two-day schedule the day before.
The meeting, held via video conference over four sessions, featured speakers from a total of 75 countries as well as representatives from the European Union (EU), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and others.
More than 60 countries presented pledges to contribute to the improvement and strengthening of PKO through strategic asset support, troop dispatch, and training programs.
The South Korean government announced pledges including Defense Minister Suh Wook’s leading role in transforming UN local missions into future-oriented ‘Smart Camps’ and the urgent provision of 16 helicopters needed for missions in the African region.
The government plans to establish partnerships with troop-contributing countries such as Kenya to support the creation of a UN helicopter unit, and the United States confirmed its intention to provide financial support for this.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US Ambassador to the UN, stated in her keynote address during the four sessions, “We will explore various opportunities to support other troop-contributing countries interested in providing air force units to UN peacekeeping,” adding, “This will include financial support for the joint pledge to establish a new helicopter unit being carried out together by South Korea and Kenya.”
Participating countries expressed their willingness to contribute in various areas including the provision of aviation assets such as transport aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles, training for counter-improvised explosive devices (counter-IED), troop and police personnel contributions, COVID-19 vaccine provision and medical capacity enhancement, and promotion of women’s participation.
Most participating countries expressed support for the ‘Seoul Initiative’ announced by the South Korean government to help build the technical and medical capacities of UN peacekeeping forces.
Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also participated as a special speaker. Ban expressed concern, saying, “Today, the UN faces more challenges than ever before,” and “The challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis could globally increase uncertainty and conflicts.” He emphasized, “Well-prepared, innovative, and dynamic UN peacekeeping operations are required.”
During his tenure as Secretary-General, Ban held a high-level meeting on peacekeeping operations in 2014 with then US Vice President Joe Biden, and the following year co-hosted a peacekeeping summit with then US President Barack Obama.
This led to the subsequent Peacekeeping Ministerial Meetings, with the UK, Canada, and the UN Headquarters in New York hosting previously, making Seoul the fourth host city.
Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong expressed in his closing remarks, “As a foreign minister of a country that once desperately needed the UN’s help, I feel very honored and deeply moved to be hosting a video conference to discuss peacekeeping.”
He added, “South Korea’s inclusive and future-oriented contributions to peacekeeping will not end with the hosting of this ministerial meeting.”
Minister Suh Wook said, “Just as a consensus on the noble goal of UN peacekeeping operations was formed through this meeting, I hope that permanent peace will be established on the Korean Peninsula and that it will lead to overcoming conflicts and maintaining peace around the world.”
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