Institutional meetings were held this morning at United Nations Headquarters between the Commanding General of the Carabinieri, Lt. Gen. Salvatore Luongo, and senior United Nations officials, as part of his working visit to the United States and of initiatives aimed at strengthening international cooperation in the field of peace operations.
During the talks with the Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support, Mr. Atul Khare, and the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Amb. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the discussions focused on issues of mutual interest related to the Carabinieri’s wide-ranging contribution to international missions, specialist training, and the development of operational capabilities in support of the United Nations.
Among the main points addressed was the importance of further enhancing the already high level of cooperation with the Carabinieri’s Centers of Excellence.
Particular attention was given to environmental protection in peace operations. In this context, the project to strengthen the Sabaudia Center as a hub of excellence for environmental protection, training, and research was presented, in line with the United Nations’ interest in the role of Environmental Focal Points in international missions.
Another topic of discussion concerned the activities of the Center of Excellence for Stability Police Units (CoESPU) and the prospects for expanding training cooperation with the United Nations, including through the certification of specialist courses for Formed Police Units and the availability to host initiatives dedicated to updating training programs. Over the past 20 years, the CoESPU in Vicenza has trained more than 15,000 police officers from over 130 countries. This perspective is part of Italy’s broader contribution to peacekeeping and Stability Policing.
On the same day, a meeting was also held with Mr. Darrin Jones, Executive Director for Partnership and Planning at INTERPOL. During the meeting, the positive cooperation between the Carabinieri and the Organization was reaffirmed, particularly in relation to the protection of cultural heritage, the fight against transnational crime, and the promotion of the rule of law in fragile or crisis-affected contexts.
The meetings took place in a constructive atmosphere and offered an opportunity to reaffirm the role of the Carabinieri as a key actor in the international landscape of security, training, and police cooperation, while confirming the shared commitment to continue strengthening dialogue and joint initiatives.
