The UK has pledged to provide advanced training for UN peacekeepers, as announced by James Heappey, Minister for the Armed Forces, at the United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial in Accra, Ghana.
At the meeting, the UK outlined its new and continuing commitments to UN peacekeeping missions, including a new Enhanced Training Model (ETM) for UN peacekeepers, which will see UK personnel assisting UN peacekeeping troops before and during missions, based on their requirements.
“From violent extremism in the Sahel, to political instability in a number of African states, the importance of working with our regional partners and the UN has rarely been clearer”, James Heappey said.
“It’s not enough for us to train peacekeepers and then let them put themselves in harm’s way with no support. Our new Enhanced Training Model will see our personnel accompany the UN’s peacekeepers on their missions, standing shoulder to shoulder with them on the ground as they work tirelessly to prevent conflict.”
During his visit to Ghana, James Heappey engaged in a bilateral security dialogue with the country’s Minister for National Security, Albert Kan-Dapaah, Minister of Defence, Dominic Nitiwul, and Minister for Interior, Ambrose Dery. The discussion centred on how to strengthen the existing bilateral defence relationship between the two countries. They also discussed the deployment of HMS Trent to the Gulf of Guinea and measures to thwart the threat of violent extremist activity originating from the Sahel region.
