UNITED NATIONS, (Sputnik) — On Monday, US President Barack Obama stated that over 50 countries announced their intention to increase their participation in peacekeeping operations under the auspices of the United Nations, pledging some 30,000 troops at the UN peacekeeping summit in the UN headquarters in New York.
"We are here today, together, to strengthen and reform @UN peacekeeping because our common security demands it" —@POTUS #UNGA
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 28, 2015
"The progress in the peace process in Colombia will allow us to have more armed forces for this purpose [of peacekeeping operations]," Colombia's President Santos said Monday on the sidelines of the summit.
The strain on UN peacekeepers has increased in recent years as a greater number of regions in the world has been gripped by armed conflicts.
Earlier in September, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for fundamental changes in the peacekeeping activities of the organization.
"Demand for @UNPeacekeeping has never been greater" Ban Ki-moon says we must reinvigorate peace operations #PKSummit pic.twitter.com/taJcvEeiWX
— UN Spokesperson (@UN_Spokesperson) September 28, 2015
The UN chief urged the prevention of military conflicts and the development of a plan by 2016 to establish rapid reaction forces worldwide to protect civilians around the world.
