• The deployment of the Security Forces in United Nations peacekeeping missions and in civilian crisis management missions under the European Union's Common Security and Defence Policy;

• The deployment of its personnel in various organisational units of FRONTEX (with the most varied functions) and active participation in the agency's operations;

• The secondment of experts to key posts in the United Nations, in the European Union and in other international organisations carrying out projects and missions on all continents;

• Presence in support and response missions carried out within the framework of the Civil Protection Mechanism for disaster situations coordinated by the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority,

• Promoting Technical-Police Cooperation and Civil Protection projects in the Portuguese Speaking African Countries (Países Africanos de Língua Oficial Portuguesa – PALOP) countries and East Timor;

• Ensuring the security of certain posts in the Portuguese diplomatic network;

• A network of MHA Liaison Officers spread across PALOP countries, East Timor, Algeria, Morocco, Spain, France, Portugal Permanent Representation in European Union (REPER) and EUROPOL(link: https://www.sg.mai.gov.pt/InternationalRelations/MHALiaisonOfficers/Paginas/default.aspx).

During the first half of 2025, the MHA deployed a total of 415 personnel (GNR, PSP, ANEPC, SGMAI), representing an increase of around 33% compared to the same period in 2024, and was present in 55 countries.

The presence of MHA Security Forces was significant on the European continent (EU civilian CSDP missions and FRONTEX) and relevant in Africa (United Nations missions). The continuation of the war in Ukraine has resulted in additional national reinforcement of CSDP missions in the region, but also within the scope of FRONTEX, in assisting with the control of the EU's eastern borders, supporting refugee flows and combating organised crime and all types of trafficking.

World map: MHA International Engagement

 

Under the Technical Police Cooperation and Civil Protection Programme with the PALOP countries and East Timor, the projection of MHA personnel (GNR, PSP and Human Beings Trafficking Observatory - OTSH) are expected to provide various training courses to strengthen technical and police skills to trainees in their countries of origin in the second half of 2025.

On the other hand, the delivery of various materials and equipment to different partner entities is planned, the timing and opportunity of which are currently being studied.

In the first half of this year, MHA saw its presence in the EU increase (by around 7% when compared to the same period in 2024), as a result of the reinforcement of MHA personnel in FRONTEX missions. Although GNR maintains a strong presence here, PSP increased its projection (from 61 to 120), committing around 53% of its total personnel and forming the MHA Security Force, which deployed more female personnel (whose total number grew significantly (from 3 to 8) - the presence of female personnel even saw an overall increase of 60% (from 9 to 15, when compared to the same period).

The European continent continued to be the main destination for MHA deployment, increasing its presence to 24 countries (two more than in the same period in 2024), authorising deployments to new countries, namely Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Mozambique, Moldova, Romania and Poland.

MHA in European Union

Compared to the same period last year, the attendance at EUROPOL (23 in 2024 to 25 in 2025), European Commission (from 5 to 8) and European External Action Service (from 7 to 10) increased MHA projection, thus making the European agency and European institutions the preferred target for national personnel.

In the first half of this year, as far as MHA presence in CSDP missions is concerned, EUCAP Mali (with 9 personnel involved), EUAM Central African Republic (7) and EUMM Georgia (6) were the missions that included national personnel.

As a result of national commitments, one MHA Officer continued to serve in the EUPM Moldova mission, the national presence in the EUPOL COPPS mission was maintained, a contingent that had been reinforced in the last quarter of 2024, and 40 GNR military personnel integrated into the Reserve Police Unit/EUROGENDFOR were deployed to support the EULEX Kosovo mission.

The deployment of MHA personnel to FRONTEX saw a slight increase of around 8% (to a total of 143 personnel) compared to the previous year, with seven female personnel deployed (compared to four in the first half of 2024).

This first half of the year was marked by significant national participation in important missions and operations, with the deployment of military and police personnel to various theatres of operations where they contributed in different areas, namely in Joint Operation Greece (34 personnel) and Joint Operation Spain/Minerva (22).

MHA in UN

At the United Nations, MHA continued to contribute to global security and stability, strengthening its presence (seven more members than in the same period in 2024) in 13 countries (two more than in 2024), namely Mozambique, Panama and Iraq, and on four continents. Here, PSP assumed the role of guarantor of the national presence through the deployment of 41 personnel, including 6 female personnel.

In UN missions, the presence was predominantly in MINUSCA (increasing from 10 to 16 personnel) and UNMISS, and the African continent continued to be the main destination for MAI personnel deployed within the United Nations.

SGMAI coordinates and monitors the participation and promotes the reinforcement of the presence of MHA personnel in the most varied missions and in various theatres of operations and in the agencies, departments and institutions of the European Union and the United Nations, the collaboration with EUROPOL and FRONTEX. It coordinates also PCTPPC cooperation actions.

It will continue to support national applications that promote the deployment of MHA elements in international missions and bodies.

Learn more at: Commitment of the MHA to Peace and Civilian Crisis Management Missions 1992-2015