The New Thinking of Police Diplomacy in the Context of International Coopetition

Abstract

This article analyses the innovative role of diplomatic police officers in international police and judicial cooperation, with a focus on Portuguese New Thinking in international relations. An active member of the United Nations and the European Union, Portugal has a foreign policy that promotes sustainable development, Fundamental Rights, and Human Security. With greater emphasis since the 1990s, the Public Security Police (PSP) and the National Republican Guard (GNR) have contributed to the internationalisation of security for peace, excelling in cooperation with international organisations and allied countries. The study analyses the formal mechanisms of international cooperation, especially the global network of Liaison Officers of the Ministry of Home Affairs (OLMAI), integrated into the national diplomatic system. These internationally accredited police officers work in strategic security circles, performing functions of representation, information, negotiation, promotion, protection, and extension of public service. The research highlights the importance of diplomatic police officers in the production of transnational security, emphasising the need for a comprehensive, integrated and innovative approach to tackling complex global challenges.