April 25, 2022
The United States and Brazil have one of the most important shared security agendas in the hemisphere. Our regular exchange of information, experience, technology, information, and capabilities helps reinforce security and defense cooperation to promote peace and the rule of law.
- Since 2018, the United States has committed over $5.5 million to build the capacity of Brazilian law enforcement to combat and counter the expansion of transnational organized crime, disrupt drug trafficking, build Brazilian interagency capacity to investigate and prosecute money laundering, corruption, and cybercrime and help disrupt the trafficking of natural resources including timber, gold, and wildlife.
- The United States is currently finalizing a program to provide 400 body worn cameras and related training for Rio de Janeiro state police.
- In the coming months a group of Brazilian civil nuclear power stakeholders will travel to the United States to facilitate a dialogue between U.S. and Brazilian experts that will include visits to a U.S. nuclear power plant, a U.S. national laboratory, and consultations with the Departments of State and Energy, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and private industry stakeholders.
- Under the umbrella of the U.S.-Brazil Defense Cooperation Agreement, which entered into force in 2015, a range of security cooperation agreements and initiatives promote joint exercises and facilitate the sharing of sophisticated capabilities and technologies.
- Brazil and the United States regularly participate in each other’s defense exercises, such as the United States’ annual maritime exercise UNITAS, which Brazil will host this year. Likewise, the United States participates in Brazil’s GUINEX maritime exercises , build with Brazil and African partners security and capacity in the Gulf of Guinea.
- In November 2021, the United States and Brazil agreed to pursue joint training of Malawian units deploying to the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), building on pre-deployment training provided through the U.S. Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI) and jungle warfare expert training Brazil currently provides.
- President Bolsonaro visited U.S. Southern Command on March 8, 2020 to meet with Command and Department of Defense leaders. Bolsonaro’s visit marked the first time a Brazilian president visited U.S. Southern Command.
- Southcom Commander Army Gen. Laura J. Richardson visited Brazil in November 2021, continuing and reinforcing the close cooperation between our two armed forces.
- From December 6 –16, 2021 the Southern Vanguard 22 combined military training exercise took place in Resende, Rio de Janeiro State. More than 200 Army South and 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Soldiers trained alongside Brazilian Army personnel assigned to 5th Battalion, 12th Infantry Brigade in the largest joint military exercise on Brazilian soil since WWII.
- On April 12, 2022, Brazil ratified the Research, Development, Testing and Evaluation Agreement with the United States, the only such agreement in South America. The agreement expands opportunities for both countries to jointly develop defense capabilities via cooperation on applied research, emerging technologies, analysis, operational studies, demonstrations, and the testing and evaluation of prototypes.
- In Summer 2020, the Department of Defense, under supervision from the State of Maranhão, funded a field hospital to combat the coronavirus in Bacabal, a city 240 km from São Luís. In addition to the hospital structure and supplies, the donation to the state of Maranhão also included US$50,000 for kits with personal hygiene products and US$ 50,000 for food baskets.
- In July 2020 the Escola Politécnica da Universidade de São Paulo received a grant of nearly US$ 200,000 from the U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR) Global to produce low-cost ventilators for use by hospitals in São Paulo.
- In February 2021 the Southern Command of the Department of Defense donated a mobile disaster response structure to the government of Minas Gerais. Aside from the structure, 40 beds, power generators and air ventilators were also donated to support the population of the state.
