Canada strengthens support and commitments following 2025 United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial meeting

May 16, 2025 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable David McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, and the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety, today announced new

commitments in support of UN peace operations following the 2025 United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial (UNPKM) meeting hosted by Germany in Berlin.

At the meeting, Canada announced a commitment of more than $40 million in support of UN peace operations and peacebuilding efforts. Canada’s pledges respond to critical needs identified by the UN and will help spur continued reform and innovation in UN operations. Canada’s pledges include:

• providing tactical airlift in support of UN peace operations
• strengthening the UN system by providing specialized training and capacity building and advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda
• strengthening the protection of civilians, with a focus on women and children, through the Elsie Initiative
• supporting the safety and security of peacekeepers

The UNPKM also included high-level policy discussions on the future of peacekeeping, with a focus on ensuring that peacekeeping remains fit for purpose in responding to contemporary conflicts. Today’s announcement reaffirms Canada’s commitment to working with the UN and other organizations to modernize multilateral approaches to global peace and security challenges. Canada will continue to support efforts to make peace operations, conflict prevention and peacebuilding effective and inclusive.

Quotes

“Peace operations are part of a collective enterprise that Canada has helped to shape. The men and women who carry out these operations are saving and protecting lives, pursuing peace and embodying some of the most important ideals for which the UN stands. Our support is a vote of confidence in the continuing relevance of peacekeeping, and a recognition that our nation’s interests are well served by working with others to reform and innovate in the security interventions undertaken by the UN.”

- The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs

“In a world facing growing instability, effective UN peacekeeping is critical. This announcement demonstrates the Canadian Armed Forces’ commitment to supporting peacekeeping operations — including through specialized military training and capacity building, and expanded airlift capabilities. Peacekeeping is a pillar of global security, and Canada will continue to lead in making it stronger and more responsive.”

- The Honourable David McGuinty, Minister of National Defence

“Although the nature of peacekeeping and the global security landscape are changing, Canada remains firmly committed to United Nations peacekeeping as a cornerstone of the international rules-based order. Through our support for inclusive, effective and innovative operations, we reaffirm our confidence in multilateral cooperation and the important role peace operations play in promoting global stability.”

- The Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety

Quick facts

• The objective of the UNPKM is to strengthen UN peacekeeping, including by improving the performance and impact of UN peacekeeping operations, in line with the UN Secretary-General’s Action for Peacekeeping initiative. 

• This includes filling capability gaps through concrete pledges and facilitating new and sustainable partnerships while strengthening existing ones.

• For the first time, the UNPKM meeting included high-level policy discussions focusing on the future of peacekeeping.

• Canada is the eighth largest financial donor to UN peace operations through assessed contributions and one of the largest voluntary funders. 

• Canada’s contributions are part of its broader military, police, civilian and foreign policy support for global peace and security initiatives, which include peacekeeping, peacebuilding, conflict prevention and stabilization.