In a high-level open debate of the UN Security Council in New York today (March 25, 2025), Greece’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Evangelos Sekeris, emphasized that UN peacekeeping operations remain the most effective, universally accepted, and irreplaceable mechanism for maintaining international peace and security. He highlighted the critical role of peacekeeping missions in promoting political dialogue and peaceful conflict resolution in areas such as Cyprus, Lebanon, Western Sahara, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Haiti, and Afghanistan. Ambassador Sekeris expressed Greece’s sincere gratitude to peacekeepers serving under difficult conditions and condemned all attacks against them. Greece, both as a troop-contributing country and an EU member, supports EU operations aligned with Security Council mandates, including IRINI, EUFOR ALTHEA, ASPIDES, and ATALANTA. The ambassador also stressed the importance of the Women, Peace, and Security agenda and child protection within peacekeeping missions. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres opened the event by underscoring the crucial role of peacekeeping operations in protecting vulnerable communities worldwide amidst growing challenges like prolonged conflicts, cross-border threats, terrorism, organized crime, and climate change impacts.