BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

EMERGING STRATEGIC ISSUES IN UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPING: IMPLICATIONS FOR BANGLADESH ARMED FORCES

Author: Md. Kamrul Hasan

DOI Link: DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.56888/BIISSj2015v36n4a2

ABSTRACT

United Nations (UN) peacekeeping activities have seen an exponential growth in both size and scope since their inception in mid-1950s. These operations are now seen as the core activity of the international community’s effort to establish peace in conflict-torn countries around the world. Operational environment and nature of threats in the UN Peacekeeping Operations (PKOs) area are continuously changing. UN also had to evolve and adopt new strategies to cope up with the operational environment. Changes in the operational strategy of UN are a continuous process. Troops Contributing Countries (TCCs) need to remain fully abreast with the strategies of UN to prepare their armed forces accordingly. The landmark Brahimi Report has manifested a renewed vision for UNPKOs to make them more effective and comparatively cost-efficient. It includes several important recommendations for enhancing capacity and effectiveness of UNPKOs. UN has already implemented some reforms according to the recommendations of the report in various areas of PKOs such as peacekeeping policy and strategy, structure of peacekeeping department, conduct and discipline etc. The reform agendas and other evolving strategic issues demand in-depth analysis by TCCs. This paper highlights important evolving strategies of UNPKOs along with an analysis to reveal their implications to the Bangladesh Armed Forces. Apparently, it is felt that Bangladesh Armed Forces may struggle to continue its current share in troops contribution if appropriate measures are not taken to face foreseeable challenges. The paper also recommends few measures which may help Bangladesh Armed Forces take benefits of the opportunities and minimise effects of the perceived challenges resulting from the evolving strategies.