FBI Crisis Negotiation Unit
Activities
Activities
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The CNU maintains an immediate \- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week \- operational response capability to conduct and manage on\-scene negotiations during any significant crisis event worldwide in which the FBI is involved. The FBI becomes involved internationally when the victim is a U.S. citizen or there are demands made against the [U.S. government](/wiki/U.S._government "U.S. government"). As part of this mission, negotiators deploy overseas to assist in [kidnapping](/wiki/Kidnapping "Kidnapping") situations involving U.S. citizens.

The FBI is considered the negotiation arm of the United States government for international incidents. Since 1990, the CNU has been involved in over 300 such incidents worldwide. CNU negotiators also routinely provide telephonic assistance to both FBI field negotiators and domestic police negotiators during domestic crisis situations.

The FBI has approximately 340 crisis negotiators in the 56 field offices. The CNU is responsible for managing these assets and providing whatever training and equipment is necessary for the field office negotiators to successfully resolve crisis situations.

The CNU is staffed by a Unit Chief, five Supervisory Special Agents and four support staff. The unit is based with all other Critical Incident Response Group units at the [FBI Academy](/wiki/FBI_Academy "FBI Academy") in [Quantico, Virginia](/wiki/Quantico%2C_Virginia "Quantico, Virginia"). The CNU has adopted the Latin phrase *pax per conloquium*, "resolution through dialogue," as its motto.


How often do CNU negotiators deploy overseas for kidnappings involving U.S. citizens?