This May 29th, on the 75th anniversary of UN peacekeeping, the United States reaffirms its enduring commitment to UN peacekeepers and recognizes their indispensable role in addressing shared threats to international peace and security.
Today we honor the more than 4,200 military, police, and civilians who have given their lives for the cause of peace, reconciliation, and recovery. And we salute the bravery, service, and sacrifice of the more than one million men and women from 125 countries who have served - or are now serving - in UN peacekeeping missions around the world.
Since the first mission in 1948, UN peacekeeping has proven to be remarkably important to advancing the cause for peace. Its core objective is what we strive to deliver: To help countries move from conflict to sustainable peace.
The United States is the largest financial contributor to UN peacekeeping over the last 75 years. We also provide training and equipment to help partners develop key enabling capabilities and invest heavily in long-term bilateral capacity-building partnerships essential to mission success through efforts such as the Global Peace Operations Initiative.
The United States invests in peacekeeping because it works. Data from the last seven decades show that peacekeeping reduces violence, contains civil wars, brings leaders to the table, and increases the odds of lasting peace. Peacekeeping is a shared responsibility that benefits all nations and peoples, and the United States will continue to be its leading proponent.