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U.N. peacekeeping faces 25% troop cut over $618M U.S. funding gap

The move is linked to the Trump administration’s "America First" policy and a U.S. cap on peacekeeping payments.

The U.N. says it had almost 70,000 personnel serving 11 peacekeeping operations as of the end of July 2025.
The U.N. says it had almost 70,000 personnel, including uniformed personnel from 121 nations, serving 11 peacekeeping operations as of the end of July 2025. (AN/MONUSCO/Lalla Sy)

The United Nations must make a 25% reduction in its global peacekeeping personnel, requiring 13,000 to 14,000 military and police personnel to be repatriated, amid a financial crisis driven by U.S. budget cuts.

Despite the U.N. General Assembly officially approving a $5.38 billion budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, a $210 million decrease from the previous cycle, the operational budget will be cut by a planned 15%, according to U.N. officials who briefed journalists on Wednesday.

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