One of the major merits of United Nations peacekeeping is that a nation[s] can increase their international influence through involvement with U.N peacekeeping missions. “Peacekeeping has helped Canada to establish itself as a leading proponent of cooperative approaches to international security…peacekeeping, and with it the image of a responsible internationalist state, raises Canada’s profile and strengthens our position across a broad range of international diplomatic negotiations” . To demonstrate this, past and present U.N operations will be examined to illustrate how peacekeeping has raised Canada’s global position. However, association with U.N peacekeeping does have certain drawbacks, such as embarrassment from various operations. Furthermore, in order to maintain the status that peacekeeping can provide a nation, that nation must make certain reforms to its foreign and defense policies.

The ONUC can still be consider a success for Canada because it proved Canada’s strength in peacekeeping when it undertook the leadership role in order to get some aspects of the operation fulfilled. In addition, the fact that Canada was approached when the U.N needed help shows Canada’s power on the world stage. What's more is the fact that it was not the Canadian government that chose to enter the ONUC, it was the Canadian citizens who wished to see their country get involved in intercontinental affairs, displaying the domestic support for peacekeeping.

Similar to the Suez-Crisis, Canada was able to bring forth new ideas to the United Nations in the United Nations force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). Cyprus, a small island in the Mediterranean received its independence from Great Britain in 1959. In 1963, President Makarios, who was a Greek Orthodox archbishop, planned constitutional alterations that appeared threatening to the Turks dwelling in Cyprus. Riots resulted in view of the jeopardizing revisions. President Makarios protested to any N.A.T.O participation, although he would consent to an international peacekeeping force under U.N rule. Lester Pearson, who at this time was the Canadian Prime Minister, was ready to offer an infantry unit and he was open to a U.N force also. Furthermore, Pearson suggested that the U.N force’s mandate would be for a predetermined length of time and that mediators should also be selected to help bring about peace. This is the second time that Canada has put forward new strategies for the United Nations, exemplifying Canada as a major contributor for the U.N.

The U.N Security Council called for Israel to withdraw and for both Britain and France to cease they’re attacks. In spite of this, the British and the French vetoed this demand, but the Security Council imposed the Unity for Peace resolution of 1950 to supersede the vetoes. On November 1, 1956, the Canadian foreign minister Lester Pearson presented the idea for “a U.N force large enough to keep these borders at peace while a political settlement is being worked out” . This proposal won the Canadian minister a Nobel Peace Prize, furthermore showing how peacekeeping has improved Canada’s international weight.

In summary, “Canadian participation in peacekeeping has made a substantial and valuable contribution to the attainment of international peace and security and thus to [Canada’s] foreign policy goals and the national interest” . This contribution has also increased Canada’s international influence, which exemplifies one of the major virtues of United Nations peacekeeping operations. Moreover, as a result of the conflicts that peacekeeping missions have either prevented or diminished and that the advantages of peacekeeping far exceed the disadvantages, U.N peacekeeping can be regarded as a necessity for the preservation of collective security around the globe.

Consequently to Pearson’s suggestion, both Britain and France requested a U.N power as a condition to a ceasefire. Again Canada took charge of the situation and Pearson submitted a plan for an “emergency international United Nations force to secure and supervise the cessation of hostiles” . From Pearson’s proposition came the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF), which was sent to Suez under the leadership of General Burns. However, the deployment of the UNEF caused embarrassment for Pearson and Canada because Canadian troops were unable to participate due to the uniforms of the Canadian infantry, which looked too alike to the uniforms of British soldiers . Once the UNEF entered Egypt it brought an end to the conflict and got the British and the French to withdraw from Suez.

On March 4, 1964, the UNFICYP was formed and entered Cyprus. Within the UNFICYP, the Canadians “created a more favorable atmosphere in the Nicosia area which is considered the most sensitive” . Regrettably, none of the fundamental problems were resolved and Can

Some topics in this essay:
United Nations, Canadian Forces, Additionally Canadian, Middle East, Arabs Israelis, Britain France, UNFICYP Canadians, Suez Crisis, External Affairs, President Makarios, united nations, canada’s international, un peacekeeping, nations peacekeeping, international influence, canada’s international influence, suez crisis, british french, britain france, suez canal, middle east, united nations peacekeeping, increased canada’s international, involvement un peacekeeping, middle power canada,