Brazilian and US governments discuss military cooperation

[protocol rv]

This is in Spanish, it says the Brazilian government is negotiating with the US for the use of a Brazilian base by the US, in Rio. This is intended to be used to fight the war on drugs. This was confirmed by US Deputy Secretary of State Valenzuela after it was disclosed by the Brazilian newspaper O Estado de São Paulo

http://www.el-nacional.com/www/site/p_contenido.php?q=nodo/131352/Internacional/Estados-Unidos-tramita-instalación-de-bases-militares-en-Brasil-para-el-control-del-narcotráfico

[naaman fletcher]

1. I was hoping Lula would be the one to tell the US to fark off on the WOD. nt.

[Bacchus39]

2. I'd be quite surprised if this happened

Brazil is obviously a country that the US, and most other countries, can work with but I don't see Brazil cooperating with the US on the failed war on drugs problem. not that drug violence isn't a big issue in Brazil.

[rabs]

3. Estadão. tonight online on the subject

1. I would think that the Brazilian government should be the party to confirm such talks are under way, not Arturo Valenzuela, Hil's man for Latin America.

2. What "security arrangement" between the U.S. and Brazil is Valenzuela talking about?

3. The United States is "analyzing the possibility of installing a base in Rio de Janeiro" unilaterally? Brasilia might have a say too.

4. Valenzuela did not say whether the base would ba a "police" base or a "military" base and declined to give further details.

5. Has Valenzuela let the a cat out of the bag prematurely?

6. Two weeks ago Brownfield, U.S. ambassador in Bogota, told the El Espectador newspaper that the United States was on the verge of signing military bases accords with two Latin American nations. Could he have been talking about this?

7. It will be interesting to see the Brazilian reaction to this.
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From Estadão online:

EUA confirmam gestão para base no Brasil
05 de abril de 2010 | 21h 39
Leia a notícia
AE-AP - Agência Estado
O subsecretário para Assuntos do Hemisfério Ocidental do governo dos Estados Unidos, Arturo Valenzuela, confirmou nesta segunda-feira que, como parte de um acordo de segurança com o Brasil, os EUA analisam a possibilidade de instalar uma base no Rio de Janeiro. Valenzuela não detalhou que tipo de base seria, se uma instalação policial para combater o narcotráfico ou uma base militar.

Em declarações a jornalistas na capital equatoriana, Valenzuela, após ser questionado sobre o tema, respondeu: "Os EUA estão tramitando isso, como sempre o fazem. É parte da política comum e diária de um país". Ele não quis dar mais detalhes sobre a questão.

Tópicos: Eua, Brasil, Segurança

[Meshuga]

4. I don't think this is happening

The move would be extremely unpopular and I cannot see Lula agreeing to this. His base and opposition would crucify him. This position is not realistic given Brazilian politics. US military presence is a no no.

[protocol rv]

5. Well, it all depends what the Brazilian military gets, no?

The Brazilian military may be willing to do this to learn some things from the US military, who are known to be using drones and other very modern technology in counter insurgency operations. This means they could give the US the right to use a Brazilian base, bring their equipment, and the Brazilians would get to watch the US guys use it. Maybe they will also ask for some training.

Since these negotiations take time, it is unlikely Lula will be involved. They would sign the agreement after the elections. Remember, the Brazilians are very good businessmen, and to them this could be good business. They learn the technology, then develop their own drones and so on.

And then, there's another issue, if the USA is going to help the Colombian army defeat the FARC, maybe the Brazilians feel this would be a good idea. The FARC are not very popular in Brazil, therefore they are expendable.

[rabs]

6. Just found the original O Estado story and it says nothing about a military base

The Caracas newspaper El Nacional has distorted the story by saying the United States is negotiating a "military base in Brazil" to fight narco-trafficking. Not so.

What O Estado reported was that Brazil and the United States are discussing a "multinational and multifunctional" base in Rio to monitor illegal drug traffickers and contraband smugglers who use South Atlantic routes.

The monitoring would be done by attaches from the participating countries, and not solely by military types. Any attaches stationed in Rio would be under Brazilian supervision.

The base office in Rio would be similar to the one already in place in Key West, Fl, (to monitor the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico) and one in Lisbon, Portugal, which watches drug trafficking in the North Atlantic.

The Rio office would be the third leg of a "tripod" to combat drug trafficking in the North and South Atlantic. Brazil already has an intelligence attache stationed in Key West.

But at this point, the Rio proposal is at the talking stage, nothing concrete.

Here is the original O Estado story (Portuguese):

http://www.estadao.com.br/estadaodehoje/20100331/not_imp531732,0.php

[protocol rv]

7. Similar to the Colombian agreement, then

It is similar to the agreement with Colombia, I suppose. I read that agreement and it doesn't allow for US bases. They are Colombian controlled and the US just gets to send some people and gear. But I think the Brazilians do like the military cooperation angle. They want to obtain information from the Americans - take the long view. So I expect they will sign an agreement after the elections.

[Meshuga]

8. Yes, context matters

And there is a difference between military presence and a fort being established as a center for intelligence against narcotraffic and terrorism under Brazilian command. And I am sure even this will be in question.