5 statements from President Dilma Rousseff on modernisation of Brazilian Armed Forces

09/13/2012  Bruno Fernandes - defenceiq.com

The need to modernise and refit the Brazilian Armed Forces has been discussed for some time. With outdated equipment and little weaponry, the subject is increasingly getting more attention in the Planalto Palace since Dilma Rousseff took over the Presidency of the Republic. The country needs to invest in order to be able to defend itself in a possible war scenario, especially to protect its oil reserves and the Amazon Rainforest.See below five recent statements made by the President on the theme:

1. “In the current global order, we are taking a political-strategic position that imposes new responsibilities and challenges to Brazil in the defense of peace. In view of such reality, the Navy refitting efforts are a strategic demand” (June/2012).

2. “The performance of our Armed Forces, whether through  missions under the aegis of the UN (United Nations) and the OAS (Organization of American States) or in the defense of our borders and our sovereignty, requires quality equipment, ready to be used, and adequately prepared and motivated staff” (June/2012).

3. “We are and will continue to be a peaceful country, which respects the sovereignty of other nations, living in peaces with them and that values its good and fruitful relations with our neighbors for over 140 years. But we know that the deterrent capacity of Brazil is critical to the continuity of such peace and mutual respect scenario. The cooperation with the civil security forces at federal, state and local levels to regain control over troubled areas, to ensure the security of major international events, such as those that Brazil will host, and at the same time the need for a presence of the Brazilian Armed Forces in a deterrent nature, impose new performance spaces and major challenges at all levels. Such proper deterrent capacity requires, as I’ve said, well equipped and well trained Armed Forces and also demands a strong national defense industry. And this is what we are responsible for building, increasingly, in the coming years. For such purpose, we are working so that the recomposition of the operational capacity of the Armed Forces is associated to the search for technological autonomy and accompanied of the strengthening of the national defense industry, since this is how our Armed Forces will continue performing, with excellence, their constitutional duties” (May/2012).

4. “Our Strategic Plan of National Defense must have a focus, which is to advance in the technological modernization of our Armed Forces. And, so that it happens in a stable manner and in an integrated and virtuous manner, it is essential to strengthen the national defense industry” (September/2011).

5. For the continued excellence of such performance it is essential that we are able to properly fit our Armed Forces, properly fit them, helping to lever our productive capacity, our defense industry and our technological autonomy. We must continue encouraging the technological development programs of the three forces and continue the structuring programs of our national defense strategy. Know that the Brazilian Armed Forces will have, in the tenure of this President, a strong incentive to the professionalism of our military officers and the strengthening of capacity of the Navy, Army and Air Force, to the conduction of joint operations” (August/2011).