In its May 2009 budget request for FY2010, the Obama Administration has requested $96.8 million for the Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI). GPOI was established in mid-2004 as a five-year program with intended annual funding to total $660 million from FY2005 through FY2009.
The centerpiece of the Bush Administration’s efforts to prepare foreign security forces to participate in international peacekeeping operations, GPOI’s primary purpose has been to train and equip 75,000 military troops, a majority of them African, for peacekeeping operations by 2010. In October 2008, the National Security Council’s Deputies Committee approved a five-year renewal of GPOI’s mandate. Congressional approval of the FY2010 budget request would provide funding for the first year of this extension.
Within a year after GPOI was initiated in late 2004, the Administration began expanding its geographical scope to selected countries in Central America, Europe, and Asia. In 2006 and 2007, the program was further expanded to countries in Asia, South Asia, and the Pacific. GPOI now includes 53 “partner” countries and two partner organizations throughout the world, although the emphasis is still on Africa. According to figures provided by the State Department, almost 57,600 peacekeeper trainees and peacekeeper trainers were trained as of January 31, 2009.
In its first action on GPOI during the 111th Congress, the House passed legislation authorizing the Secretary of State to carry out and expand GPOI programs and activities (Section 1108 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011, H.R. 2410, passed June 10, 2009). In plans for GPOI after 2010, State Department officials state that the program’s emphasis would shift from direct training to building the capacity of foreign nations to develop their own peacekeeping infrastructure and capabilities.
Asia/South Asia/Pacific Islands
In Asia, the first countries to be extended train-and-equip assistance and provided some logistical support were Bangladesh, Malaysia, Mongolia, and Thailand (which was subsequently suspended because of a military coup and reinstated in February 2008). GPOI funds were also used establish and install a communications network among partner countries in the region, called the Peace Support Operations Collaboration Center (PSOCC) in Mongolia. This project was part of plans for what was formerly referred to as the Asia-Pacific Area Network (APAN).
Currently, there are 14 partner countries in good standing in these regions: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tonga, and Vietnam. In addition, Fiji is a partner country, but it is currently under sanctions and not eligible for GPOI assistance. India chose not to join GPOI as a partner, but Indian personnel have participated in some GPOI training events through the use of non- GPOI funds. Personnel from Australia, Brunei, Japan, Laos, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, and Singapore have also participated in GPOI training events, although GPOI did not fund the travel and accommodations for personnel from these countries. In all,some 3,287 peacekeepers and peacekeeping trainers from those regions have been trained using GPOI funds.
Country Peacekeepers Trained Peacekeeper Trainers Trained Total #
Fiji – Suspended 45 2 47 Tonga 113 7 120 Papua New Guinea 2 0 2 Australia 20 0 20 New Zealand 5 0 5
Source: Compiled from information provided by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs and adapted from Congress Report by Nina M. Serafino, Specialist in International Security Affairs (June 11th 2009).
