UN peacekeeping chief to visit Italy, Türkiye for high-level talks

Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN under-secretary-general for peace operations, will visit Italy and Türkiye from May 4 to 7 for a series of high-level meetings focused on international peacekeeping efforts, a UN official announced on Friday. Deputy spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters that Lacroix will begin his trip in Rome, where he is scheduled to hold bilateral discussions with Italian government officials on May 4-5 to discuss peacekeeping-related issues.

Brindisi conference and Ankara meetings

Following his meetings in Rome, Lacroix will travel to Brindisi to participate in a conference marking the 20th anniversary of the UN Standing Police Capacity (SPC). The SPC is a rapidly deployable police capability designed to strengthen early policing responses in peace operations and other mission settings. Lacroix will conclude his trip in Türkiye’s capital, Ankara, on May 7, where he is set to meet Turkish officials. Haq added that Lacroix will “discuss Türkiye’s support to United Nations peacekeeping, including as a police contributing country.”

Türkiye’s role in UN peacekeeping

Türkiye has been a consistent contributor to UN peacekeeping missions, providing troops, police, and equipment to operations in various conflict zones, including in Africa and the Balkans. Ankara has also hosted UN training centers for peacekeepers. The visit underscores the UN’s appreciation for Türkiye’s contributions and may lead to increased Turkish participation in future missions, particularly as the demand for police components in peace operations grows. For Türkiye, engagement with the UN peacekeeping apparatus aligns with its foreign policy goal of being a global security actor.