As UN peacekeeping operations face unprecedented challenges – from strained resources to complex conflict zones – a new CGTN documentary, Blue Helmets, No Borders, sparks critical dialogue about the future of international conflict resolution. Through firsthand accounts from peacekeepers, commanders, and affected civilians, the film examines whether the iconic blue berets can adapt to modern geopolitical realities while preserving their core mission.
"We’re not just soldiers – we’re bridge builders," says Major Amina Diallo, featured in the documentary, who served in Mali. Her sentiment echoes through stories of medical teams treating war-wounded children and engineers restoring water systems in South Sudan. Yet the documentary doesn’t shy from hard truths: 135 peacekeepers killed in 2023, missions delayed by funding gaps, and political divisions complicating mandate renewals.
UN Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix tells viewers: "Every helicopter grounded by budget cuts means villages unprotected. Every delayed troop rotation risks hard-won trust." The film juxtaposes these operational hurdles with striking success stories – like Cyprus, where peacekeepers have maintained stability for 60 years through continuous adaptation.
With 85% of UN peacekeeping personnel coming from Asia, Africa, and South America, the documentary highlights how developing nations bear disproportionate risks in global security efforts. As India prepares to deploy its first all-female engineering unit to the Democratic Republic of Congo, the film asks: Can structural reforms match evolving peacekeeping needs while honoring its founding principles?
