US continues to be 'a very significant partner', UN peacekeeping chief says

In an interview with FRANCE 24, UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix said the US continues to be "a very significant partner", despite owing $3 billion to peacekeeping. With the UN forced to cut about 25 percent of its capacity, Lacroix defended missions that cost just 0.2 percent of global military spending: "Peacekeeping is a good deal really."

Speaking to FRANCE 24 at UN headquarters in New York, Lacroix insisted the US "is and will be and has been a critical partner to peacekeeping", despite Washington owing $3 billion in past dues and Congress yet to decide on future funding. He stopped short of any prediction, saying simply: "I'm hopeful that this will continue to be the case." Lacroix acknowledged, however, that "the financial constraints, especially last year, have led us to cut about 25 percent of our capacity".

To those who find peacekeeping too expensive, Lacroix pointed out that its total cost this year will be "0.2 percent of military expenditures in the world". He said he is asking only for resources "that would be commensurate to the mandates that are given to us by the Security Council", warning that missions leaving too early are "very bad news for the population", as seen in Mali, Haiti and Darfur.

With UNIFIL, the UN's peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, due to shut down at the end of the year, the UN has submitted to the Security Council an option for a continued presence in Lebanon, at the request of the Lebanese authorities – a move opposed by Israel.

"The main point is that Lebanon needs international support," Lacroix said.