In its assessment of global security challenges, Uruguay’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted an unprecedented level of global conflict and military spending that “threate the essence of humanity” while marking the International Day of Peace by reaffirming its commitment to a peaceful society.
A September 19 statement issued by the Ministry acknowledges that the world today finds itself in “a situation of increasing uncertainty and greater conflict.”
It cites surprising new data showing that while global military spending has experienced the largest annual increase since the end of the Cold War, the number of interstate conflicts has reached its highest level since the end of World War II.
The ministry emphasized that strengthening and supporting multilateral spaces are fundamental elements of maintaining international peace and security, which it has described as “constant for our country.”
Montevideo says its foreign policy prioritizes collaboration with international peace efforts at multiple levels, framing multilateral engagement as essential rather than optional.
Beyond the diplomatic statement, Uruguay points to specific contributions to global security, including 35 years of uninterrupted participation in UN peacekeeping operations.
The ministry highlighted Monteviddo’s “continuous contribution to the construction of dialogue spaces at the local level” as an important component of its peacebuilding efforts. This work is now supplemented by a new policy that focuses specifically on the “building capacity on conflict mediation and preventive diplomacy,” representing strategic investments to address conflict before it spreads to violence.
On this day of International Peace, Uruguay said it “doubled its commitment to promoting both international peace and security, as well as to promote both a peaceful and inclusive society.”
The ministry’s statement concludes Uruguay’s comprehensive approach (combining peacekeeping, dialogue promotion and mediation capacity building to place integral elements of foreign policy that continue despite challenging global trends).