In an interview with FRANCE 24, UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix said the US continues to be "a very significant partner", despite owing $3 billion to peacekeeping. With the UN forced to cut about 25 percent of its capacity, Lacroix defended missions that cost just 0.2 percent of global military spending: "Peacekeeping is a good deal really."
Speaking to FRANCE 24 at UN headquarters in New York, Lacroix insisted the US "is and will be and has been a critical partner to peacekeeping", despite Washington owing $3 billion in past dues and Congress yet to decide on future funding. He stopped short of any prediction, saying simply: "I'm hopeful that this will continue to be the case." Lacroix acknowledged, however, that "the financial constraints, especially last year, have led us to cut about 25 percent of our capacity".
