Canadian peacekeeping

Canada has served in over 50 peacekeeping missions, including every United Nations (UN) peacekeeping effort from its inception until 1989.^[1] More than 125,000 Canadians have served in international peacekeeping operations, with approximately 130 Canadians having died during these operations.^[2] Canada's strong support for multilateralism and internationalism has been closely related to its peacekeeping efforts.^[3][4][5]

Canada's role in the development of and participation in peacekeeping during the 20th century led to its reputation as a positive middle power.^[6][7] Canada's successful role in mediating the 1956 Suez Canal Crisis gave it credibility and established it as a country fighting for the common good of all nations.^[8][9] The Canadian public came to identify the nation's peacekeeping role as the country's top contribution in international affairs.^[10][11][12]

Canada faced controversy over its involvement in some peacekeeping efforts resulting in a military reassessment in the late 1990s.^[13] By the 21st century, Canadian direct participation in UN peacekeeping efforts greatly declined, with its military participation reallocated to UN-sanctioned operations through the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).^[14] This military reallocation resulted in a shift towards more militarized and deadly missions, rather than traditional peacekeeping duties.^[15]