Introduction

The role of UN peacekeepers has only become more divisive in the second half of 2025. Budget cuts have changed how peacekeeping missions are run. The lack of adequate funding has shifted the direction of pre-deployment training, cutting the inclusion of certain aspects of training to make it more budget-friendly. These are not temporary revisions. Rather, they have triggered an entire reassessment of peacekeeping operations.

These are not the only changes that peacekeeping has faced. Internationally, attacks on peacekeeping operations have increased. The second half of 2025 alone has seen a move away from the previously held view of neutrality on peacekeeping. In response, pre-deployment training has been revised, teaching peacekeepers to respond to attacks instead of solely focusing on protecting civilians and maintaining peace. The future of peacekeeping is in question. As UN peacekeeping continues to evolve, solutions must consider the sustainability of peacekeeping operations and what the future of peacekeeping holds.

Post-2025 Budget Compression and the Strategic Reprioritization of Pre-Deployment Training 

The lack of member state payments to peacekeeping efforts has led to many challenges. The funding deficit approaches over USD two billion for the 2025-2026 period. Peacekeeping mandates that have already been approved are running into issues. These missions no longer have the needed budget and resources to be completed. Further, the lack of certainty on the future of the peacekeeping budget has made long-term planning difficult. The UN has treated this issue as one that is permanent rather than temporary. They have focused on budget adjustment as opposed to a temporary reduction. The overall size and length of peacekeeping missions have been reduced. Also, pre-deployment training itself has been shortened. This is done as a cost-saving measure. It also leads to broader inefficiencies as troops go into missions underprepared.

De-escalation and harm-reduction training has been significantly reduced. Once a central focus of peacekeeping, it is now viewed as a lower priority in terms of time, funding, and resources. Similarly, less emphasis is being placed on cultural awareness and community engagement training, widening the gap between peacekeepers and the communities they serve. This trend is reinforced by the increasing standardization of missions, which discourages personnel from meaningful interaction with the local population. Rather, they are encouraged to find a “one-size-fits-all” solution that will quickly fix a situation. The cuts have also shifted pre-deployment training to be focused on classroom instruction instead of field training. This creates a larger issue of experience gaps.

Overall, PDT has suffered greatly. Narrow training has reduced preparedness. There is an over-focus on in-mission training instead of preparation. Further, overall costs per mission are rising as mistakes accumulate and efficiency declines. Troop deployments consume substantial resources, creating long-term risks to mission effectiveness. While these changes reflect internal structural shifts within UN peacekeeping, they do not capture the additional pressures and adaptations imposed by external factors.

Escalating Targeting of Peacekeepers and the Shift Toward Combat-Ready PDT

In the late months of 2025, attacks on peacekeeping bases have occurred. Historically, peacekeepers have been seen as a neutral force. They have been charged with aiding struggling regions. However, this is no longer the case. There have always been some accidents in conflict zones involving peacekeepers. Now, there has been a shift to intentional attacks on peacekeepers. This shows both a broader shift in how peacekeepers are perceived and an increase in international conflict.

An example of this occurred in Lebanon. On October 26, 2025, it was reported that an Israeli drone fired a grenade near peacekeeping forces. No injuries were reported. However, it ignored UN mandates about peacekeepers. This was not a unique occurrence. On December 13, 2025, there was an attack on peacekeepers in Sudan. The strike killed six UN peacekeepers. It was not attributed to a specific group. The use of drones is an instance of modernizing warfare against peacekeepers, and it is also reflective of targeted warfare against peacekeepers.

The increased danger faced by peacekeepers has changed PDT. Peacekeepers no longer only focus on being neutral. They must learn basic security and defense measures now. PDT has been forced to adjust to prepare for hostile forces. Defense against attacks is now an important part of peacekeeping operations. Neutrality is no longer enough to promise safety. This change improves safety, but it also raises concerns that civilian engagement may suffer. It also may blur the line between peacekeeping and combat.

Conclusion

Due to both internal and external factors, PDT has changed. Whether it is due to budget cuts and a need to be more efficient or because the challenges peacekeepers face have changed, 2025 has marked a period of significant change. Solutions must consider the quickly changing nature of the world, global conflict, and how pre-deployment training should be adjusted to be responsive and flexible to the changing needs of peacekeeping.

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