On the occasion of the 23rd International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, established in 2003, Italy renews its commitment to supporting international peace and security, expressing its deep gratitude to military and civilian personnel engaged in United Nations peacekeeping operations. Operating often in challenging conditions and at risk to their own safety, UN peacekeepers represent an essential instrument of stabilisation, making a decisive contribution to the protection of civilian populations and to the advancement of concrete pathways towards peace.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, stressed that UN peacekeepers are a key presence in areas affected by conflict and instability, contributing to the protection of civilians, the monitoring of ceasefires and the support of peace processes. “They bring hope and peace, operating with courage and dedication in theatres of crisis and conflict,” the Minister recalled, reiterating the absolute priority of ensuring the safety of personnel engaged in United Nations missions and paying tribute to those who have lost their lives in the service of peace.
Italy continues to play a leading role in the main United Nations peace operations, in particular in the UNIFIL mission, which it commands and in which the Italian contingent represents the largest national presence. Italy is the seventh largest contributor to the United Nations peacekeeping budget and the leading contributor of UN peacekeepers among Western countries. The United Nations Global Service Centre in Brindisi is a strategic and unique facility worldwide providing logistical support to peace operations, while Vicenza hosts the Centre of Excellence for Stability Police Units, an international benchmark for the training of UN peacekeepers.
