{Japan and Mexico will contribute troops to UN peacekeeping, a top UN official said Friday following a top-level meeting aimed at shoring up blue-helmet missions worldwide. }<\/p>\n
Sweden announced plans to send 250 troops to join the UN force in Mali and China said it would send a 700-strong infantry battalion to South Sudan among other pledges at the meeting chaired by US Vice President Joe Biden.<\/p>\n
UN peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous said the decision by Japan and Mexico was “a first” and that other offers of training and equipment were made to support the missions.<\/p>\n
“I think this is very positive,” said Ladsous.<\/p>\n
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told the meeting that Tokyo would be “upgrading its domestic laws and regulations in the field of security” to play a more active role in UN peacekeeping.<\/p>\n
Japan is the second largest financial contributor to UN peace missions behind the United States, but its pacifist constitution barred Tokyo from sending troops in peace operations.<\/p>\n
Mexico’s President Enrique Pena Nieto announced Wednesday that his country would take part in UN peacekeeping operations, during his speech to the UN General Assembly.<\/p>\n
The announcements come after the Philippines pulled its forces from the UN force serving in the Golan following a standoff with Syrian rebels and the hostage-taking of a fellow Fijian contingent.<\/p>\n
France pledged to train 20,000 soldiers every year while Rwanda offered helicopters and police to the peace mission in South Sudan.<\/p>\n
A record of 130,000 troops, police and civilian staff are serving in the 16 UN peacekeeping missions worldwide but the demand for the international force remains high. <\/p>\n
Agencies<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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