Peacekeeping mission are military and police-based operations that seek to prevent a resumption of hostilities while diplomats work toward comprehensive and lasting settlements. Such missions can range from simple ceasefire monitoring to multidimensional undertakings that include institution building, police and security forces reform, electoral supervision, and more. Each peacekeeping operation is guided by a mandate set by the Security Council and may involve use of force (as in INTERFET led by Australia in East Timor in 1999 or ISAF in Afghanistan since 2001).
The core principles guiding peacekeeping have been to maintain impartiality, obtain consent from the belligerents involved in the conflict, and not exceed a certain level of force (except for self-defense). These operations are often backed by an international coalition—the rapid reaction forces in Bosnia under U.S. command, for example; or an organization such as the African Union in Mali (MINUSMA) or NATO in Afghanistan or Kosovo under its own command (ISAF).
As peacekeeping becomes more complex and diverse, some challenges have arisen. For instance, the host countries of two major UN missions recently demanded their withdrawal, while others argue that missions should be able to engage in broader tasks like dismantling illegal armed groups or mitigating gang violence. In addition, the increasing prominence of global power rivalries in these operations can distort their objectives or undermine their legitimacy. In the case of Mali, for example, France’s ties with Russia have strained its partnership with MINUSMA and heightened concerns that the mission has become an arena for competing geopolitical interests.