Chapter 8: Ethical Reflections of a Military Commander in International Operations

Lieutenant General (Retired) Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz is a reference in the Brazilian and international context for his role as military commander in international peace operations, particularly in Haiti and in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which involved very challenging situations related to the use of force against insurgent groups alongside the protection of civilian populations and United Nations personnel.

Like the research participants mentioned in the previous part of this volume, General Santos Cruz attended the Army Cadets Preparatory School and the Military Academy of Agulhas Negras, where he graduated in 1974. He performed several military roles during his extensive career in the active duty and, more recently, after retiring, he served in public positions as Public Security Secretary of the Ministry of Justice (2017–2018) and Chief Minister of the Government Secretariat (2019). Due to his significant experience in international missions, he has been invited to participate in some UN events, mainly in activities related to leadership for senior leaders.