UN Peace Operations in 2026: geopolitics, multipolarity and adaptation

The past twelve months has been a period of considerable turbulence for UN peace operations. At a strategic level, we are seeing a dramatically changing peacekeeping landscape. The UN80 Reform agenda has been cited as one of the most ambitious projects of internal reform since the early 2000’s by some, and a worrying response to a considerably hostile funding reality by others. Moreover, the organisation is finalising a Review on the Future of All Forms of Peace Operations, as mandated by the 2024 Pact for the Future. Despite indications of Member State support for UN-led operations, as indicated in commitments made at the 2025 Berlin Ministerial, states are also considering in greater depth the potential of non-UN missions such as the Gang Suppression Force in Haiti.

At the operational level, large missions are in decline, the UN is indicating preference to deploying lighter, political presences, and the emergence of new and volatile conflict environments. Ad hoc coalitions, regional and sub-regional actors, and an expanding number of non-state interveners means that UN missions will engage with a considerable variation of actors in deployment zones. In the meantime, UN missions continue to face considerable challenges in the field in civilian protection and building up sustainable peacebuilding strategies.

This roundtable will take stock of the past year’s trends to ask what it means for the future of UN peacekeeping. It brings together academic and FCDO experts to share insights. Participants will be asked to contribute with their considerations of the key trends in peace operations from their perspective. It will be split into two sessions, taking account of strategic and operational challenges, before positing key areas in the future agenda of peace operations towards 2030. The roundtable will also be asked to reflect what this may mean for the UK’s role as a permanent member of the Security Council.