Withdrawal from UN Peacekeeping? Germany’s Role in UN Peacekeeping and Its Lessons from minusma

Abstract The closure of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali ( minusma ) in December 2023 marked the end of Germany’s largest personnel contribution to a UN peace mission in a decade. Given Germany’s post-war history, its role as a middle power, and its status as the world’s third-largest economy, multilateral action plays a crucial role in its foreign policy. The UN, as a global organization, is an indispensable pillar of Germany’s multilateral orientation. Germany’s generally cautious participation in UN peacekeeping occurs against the backdrop of a mixed record of UN missions and recurring reform discussions within the UN system. The German experiences from minusma —including its abrupt end at the behest of the Malian government without improving civilian security—will influence future national mandate debates on German involvement in UN operations. This article analyzes the reasons for Germany’s withdrawal from UN peacekeeping using the minusma mission as a case study, within the context of the concept of multilateralism.