Brazil’s Military Race To Protect Amazon Resources
Please note that we are not authorised to provide any investment advice. The content on this page is for information purposes only.
The Brazilian military plans to increase its presence in the Amazon region in order to protest the massive amounts of natural resources from any external threats, said Defence Minister Celso Amorim on Thursday.
Presently, Brazil’s navy patrols the Amazon’s river basin and its 7,49km coastline with a blue-water force developed under the National Defence Strategy unveiled in 2008.
The Brazilian military plans to increase its presence in the Amazon region in order to protest the massive amounts of natural resources from any external threats, said Defence Minister Celso Amorim on Thursday.
Presently, Brazil’s navy patrols the Amazon’s river basin and its 7,49km coastline with a blue-water force developed under the National Defence Strategy unveiled in 2008.
But the Air Force, as well as other military services, could soon be part of a massive collaborative effort in guarding the Amazon, which is the planet’s largest rainforest and Brazil’s main source of fresh water.
[quote]“The commitment to the defence of the Amazon is fundamental. Navy, Air Force, all services will boost their presence in the Amazon in the next few years,” told Amorim to the Brazilian Senate, as quoted by AFP.[/quote]And while the Defence Minister did not believe that any of their neighbours would one day attempt to threaten Brazil, “we (Brazil) cannot rule out that some power from outside the region” would try to pilfer the nation’s natural resources.
The Amazon River accounts for nearly one fifth of the total volume of freshwater in the world. Brazil’s sub-salt oil fields, located off the country’s southeast Atlantic coast, could also contain more than 100 billion barrels of high-quality recoverable oil according to official estimates.
“We are working on a plan to deploy (security) forces and the Amazon plays a very important role. It’s the most vulnerable part of our country,” Amorim said.
“We have a wealth of resources which can make us the target of adventures,” he added.
According to Amorim, the country’s strategic planners were also seeking for ways to boost “transparent cooperation” with other Amazon countries, so as to create a joint security commission for the Amazon.
[quote]”We do not feel threatened by any South American countries and we do not want anyone to feel threatened by us. We always want full transparency to avoid suspicions,” he said.[/quote]The other countries that share the sprawling Amazon region are Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela. As the largest country, both in land and economic size, Brazil though has the largest obligation to protect the Amazon.
Related: Brazil Economy
Related: Brazil Economic Statistics and Indicators
Related: Brazil Economic Forecast
AFP reports that the Brazilian navy is already developing an ambitious submarine program that will be designed to protect its huge deep-water oil reserves.
The centrepiece of the naval build-up is the ProSub programme, which could help develop the non-nuclear components of Brazil’s first nuclear-powered fast attack submarine.
