Lula defends investment in defense so that 'no one sticks their nose in our country'

The Chief Executive visited the Avibras factory, a defense company that produces missiles and rockets, in Jacareí, in the interior of São Paulo.

"I want the Armed Forces to be well-prepared, well-trained, with enough soldiers to take care of this country," said the president at the event.

"So that we can stand up with our heads held high, without any arrogance, talking about peace, but prepared to not let anyone stick their nose in our country," he added.

The president also stated that he was happy for Avibras workers, who signed an agreement with the company to put an end to a strike that lasted years and paralyzed the company's operations.

The company resumed activities in May. The company produces missiles, rockets, vehicles and civil space launchers, among others.

Under financial crisis, Avibras spent around three years paralyzed after employees went on strike due to lack of payment.

The agreement signed between the Metalworkers Union of São José dos Campos and Avibras determines the payment of labor debt in the form of social compensation. The debt has been accumulated since 2022 and amounts to R$230 million, according to the union.

This year, the company raised R$300 million from Brazilian investors to resume missile production. Among the investors is businessman Joesley Batista, controller of J&F.

Before shutting down the machines at its factory, Avibras' main customers were countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Indonesia and Malaysia. And in the past, it supplied equipment for the Iran-Iraq and Gulf wars that took place in the 1980s and 1990s.

A private company, it is seen as a strategic asset by people linked to the government. Guilherme Boulos (PSOL), today chief minister of the General Secretariat of the Republic, is one of those who openly defend the nationalization of the company, having created a bill for this purpose.

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