MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Friday reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to the peacekeeping operations of the United Nations.
"Since 1963, the Philippines has never wavered or faltered in its commitment to peacekeeping missions," Lorenzana said in a speech during the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Meeting on Uniformed Capabilities, Performance, and Protection in New York.
“The Philippines is ready to increase its engagement in peacekeeping operations. The Philippine government has decided to allow the deployment of military and police area in any area, regardless of the security threat level,” he added.
“The Philippines stands in solidarity with the community of nations in fostering shared responsibility for the success of peacekeeping operations.”
The Philippines’ reassurance of its commitment comes as the United States, the number one financial contributor to UN peacekeeping, is seeking to reduce its share of the UN budget for peace operations.
US national security advisor John Bolton in December said the United States will seek to wind down long-running UN peacekeeping missions that do not bring long-term peace.
The United States in December announced that it would cap its contribution to the peacekeeping budget to 25 percent, down from the current level of 28.5 percent. — Ian Nicolas Cigaral with AFP