Obama Set to Get Pledges for Thousands of U.N. Peacekeepers: Official

UN peacekeepers
UN peacekeepers patrol in Kidal, Mali, July 23, 2015. REUTERS/Adama Diarra

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Some 50 world leaders, more than a third from Europe, are set to pledge thousands of troops and police, equipment or training for United Nations peacekeeping missions during a summit that will be chaired by U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday, a U.S. official said.

The United States has "significantly exceeded" its goal of garnering commitments for a surplus of 10,000 troops and police that will allow the United Nations to more rapidly deploy forces if a new operation needs to be created, the U.S. official said on Tuesday.

Amid a stream of allegations of misconduct and sexual abuse by U.N. peacekeepers in Central African Republic, he also said the surplus of troops and police would allow the world body to exercise more discretion with its 16 current missions.

"If there is a troop contingent that's committing abuses or a troop contingent that's not performing the mandate (the U.N.) can actually repatriate that contingent knowing that there are a significant number of other countries that are now willing to step in," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

During a speech in Brussels in March, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power called on Europe to consider contributing more to U.N. peacekeeping. She said two decades ago Europeans made up 40 percent of U.N. peacekeepers, but that has fallen to about 7 percent.

Around 20 European leaders are expected to announce commitments at the summit on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly on Monday, the U.S. official said.

"European leaders will typically be announcing one or two discreet military units to go into peacekeeping in the short or medium term," he said. "I think you will especially see Europeans coming forward in areas like engineering, medical, counter-IED (improvised explosive devices), those sorts of areas which are small in numbers but outsize impact."

The U.S. official said several Latin American and Asian countries were stepping forward with commitments to make up the surplus of troops and police.

U.S. Army General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told dozens of U.N. ambassadors and military advisors in New York in July that the United Nations needed rapid response forces, equipment and training.

Some European diplomats have privately expressed annoyance that the United States is pushing Europe to offer more troops to U.N. missions without itself offering troops and police.

According to the U.N. website, the United States provides 82 troops, police and advisers of the more than 106,5000 deployed on U.N. peacekeeping missions. Washington pays for more than 28 percent of the more than $8.2 billion U.N. peacekeeping budget.

The U.S. official said Washington was considering increasing the number of military advisers and making available the country's "unrivalled set of airlift capabilities."

The top five troop and police contributing countries to U.N. peacekeeping missions are Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Pakistan and Rwanda.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Toni Reinhold)

    Most Popular
  • Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Faith-based films often receive mixed reactions, and The Last Supper is no exception. The movie attempts to bring a fresh perspective to one of the most iconic moments in Christian history, but does it succeed? Some reviews from critics and audiences provide insight into its strengths and shortcomings.

  • ‘The Chosen’ Season 5: The darkest season yet—What to know before watching

    The wait is over—The Chosen is back with its fifth season, and this time, things are getting intense. The new episodes dive straight into the final days of Jesus’ life, covering some of the most emotional and dramatic moments in the Bible. If you’ve been following the series, you already know that The Chosen isn’t just about retelling familiar stories—it’s about bringing them to life in a way that feels real.

  • Massacres in Syria: Over 1,000 dead, including Christians and Alawites

    Syria’s coastal regions have been devastated by a series of massacres, with reports indicating that over 1,000 people—many from Christian and Alawite communities—have been killed in brutal attacks. Entire families have been wiped out, and survivors are fleeing in search of safety as sectarian violence escalates.

  • Kim Sae-ron and Wheesung: The tragic irony of Korean society and the principles of happiness

    Not long ago, the media was in an uproar over actress Kim Sae-ron’s passing. Just months before, the same people who had relentlessly criticized her for her DUI incident were now expressing sympathy, saying, "The world was too harsh on her." The irony is impossible to ignore.

  • Newsboys move forward as a quartet after Michael Tait’s departure

    After more than a decade as the lead singer of the Newsboys, Michael Tait has officially parted ways with the band, marking a significant shift in the Christian rock group’s lineup. The remaining members—Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips, and Adam Agee—have assured fans that they will continue forward, embracing a new season of music and ministry.