The leadership of the Brazilian Armed Forces assesses as unlikely that the United States' plans to carry out ground operations against drug traffickers in Latin America will reach Brazilian territory. Military personnel who maintain frequent contact with members of the American forces consider that any direct action on Brazilian soil would depend on the cooperation of national institutions.
How Brazil's military leadership sees a chance for US action
The leadership of the Brazilian Armed Forces assesses as unlikely that the United States' plans to carry out ground operations against drug traffickers in Latin America will reach Brazilian territory. Military personnel who maintain...
According to the assessment of these soldiers, the Army would play a central role in any operation of this type, due to its presence along the extensive Brazilian land border. The country shares almost 17 thousand kilometers of borders with ten South American countries, which represents a challenge for land actions against drug trafficking.
- The military leadership's analysis also considers that the United States knows that Brazil is not among the major drug producers.
- The country is seen, in this context, mainly as a consumer and as an important commercial warehouse used by drug traffickers.
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According to the assessment of these soldiers, the Army would play a central role in any operation of this type, due to its presence along the extensive Brazilian land border. The country shares almost 17 thousand kilometers of borders with ten South American countries, which represents a challenge for land actions against drug trafficking.
The military leadership's analysis also considers that the United States knows that Brazil is not among the major drug producers. The country is seen, in this context, mainly as a consumer and as an important commercial warehouse used by drug traffickers.
Another factor pointed out by the military is precisely the size of the Brazilian border. The territorial extension and complexity of the region would make any ground operation conducted directly by the United States difficult.
As a comparison, members of the Brazilian Armed Forces highlight the difficulties faced by Americans on the border with Mexico. Despite being just over 3 thousand kilometers long, the area is considered a known scenario of operational difficulties related to the fight against drug trafficking.
The assessment comes after the announcement made by Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth during a visit to Panama. The American Secretary of Defense stated that the United States plans to carry out attacks “on the ground” against drug traffickers in Latin America.
The declaration expands a strategy that, according to Hegseth, already includes actions in international waters against alleged vessels involved in drug smuggling.
Even in light of the American announcement, members of the Brazilian Armed Forces leadership do not consider it likely that Brazil will be the target of these operations. For them, an intervention in the national territory could not occur independently and would depend on the collaboration of Brazilian institutions, especially the Army.
The position also takes into account the characteristics of the Brazilian territory and its extensive land border. In this scenario, the military assesses that direct action by the United States against drug traffickers on Brazilian soil would be unlikely, especially given the need for national cooperation for any possible operation.
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