15-05-2025
M'sia calls for reforms of UN peacekeeping ops
Addressing the crowd: Khaled delivering his speech at the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial 2025 forum in Berlin, Germany. — Bernama
BERLIN: Malaysia has called for bold and forward-looking reforms in the United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping operations to ensure greater effectiveness and safety of personnel in the face of increasingly complex global challenges.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said peacekeepers today face emerging challenges, adding that the dynamic geopolitical landscape underscores the importance of continued evolution in UN peacekeeping.
He said Malaysia believes two key shifts are essential to advancing meaningful reform.
'Firstly, equipping our peacekeepers with technologically advanced equipment and weaponry is paramount. The strategic integration of cutting-edge technology into peacekeeping operations is a powerful deterrent against hostile entities.
'This integration will significantly enhance our forces' capacity to respond swiftly and effectively to emerging threats in peacekeeping missions. A technologically empowered peacekeeping force projects strength and moral authority, and reinforces the collective resolve to uphold peace and security,' he said.
Khaled said this during his intervention for High-Level Session II – Peacekeeping Reform: More Effective and Safer Peacekeeping during the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial 2025 forum, Bernama reported.
He said the UN must emphasise capacity-building because as a longstanding troop-contributing country, Malaysia strongly believes in the critical importance of training, particularly in areas that enhance interoperability, facilitate knowledge-sharing and improve peacekeepers' effectiveness.
'As missions grow more complex, it is imperative that we invest in training programmes that not only develop core operational competencies, but also prepare personnel to integrate and utilise advanced technologies effectively.
'At the same time, we must ensure our institutional frameworks and policies evolve with these technological developments. This includes revising operational doctrines, updating standard operating procedures and establishing clear guidelines for the ethical and responsible use of emerging technologies,' he said.
Khaled emphasised that peacekeeping reform lies at the intersection of technology, training and policy.
'By equipping our peacekeepers with modern tools, investing in comprehensive capacity-building, and ensuring our institutional frameworks remain agile and responsive, we can build a force that is not only operationally ready and effective but also guided by strong values and a deep sense of responsibility,' he said.
The biannual forum brings together the country's officials who support the security mission under the UN.
