ABSTRACT
Since July 27, 1950 when, at the request of the Secretary-General, governments were asked to provide military assistance to the United Nations forces in Korea, New Zealand has contributed peacekeepers alongside nations from across the globe as part of peacekeeping missions. 1 Each mission has had its distinct role, composition and degrees of success, with New Zealand’s contribution ranging from: providing unarmed military observers in various missions throughout Africa and the Middle East, including the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization: Middle East (UNTSO) from 1954 till today; as well as providing demining experts in Afghanistan, Cambodia, Angola, Mozambique and Laos; to providing an infantry battalion group on the Timorese border as part of the United Nations Transitional Authority in East Timor (UNTAET) from 1999 till 2002. 2 Over this period, the type, role and numbers of international military forces involved in various United Nations peacekeeping missions have changed to meet the prevailing conditions. This chapter focuses on the role of international military forces in 21st century Peacekeeping Operations and draws on my personal observations as a New Zealand and United Nations military commander in order to suggest a more integrated approach for future national contributions and to provide a number of lessons learnt for military commanders to use in future peacekeeping operations.
