Army commander goes to Germany to reverse veto – 07/10/2023 – Politics

The commander of the Army, General Tomás Paiva, led a Brazilian delegation to Germany to try to resume the importation of a part used to manufacture the Guarani armored vehicle —the main military vehicle produced in Brazil.

Since February, Germany has embargoed the shipment of a transmission box used in the manufacture of the armored vehicle. The reason would be a contract for the purchase of 28 units of the military vehicle signed between Brazil and the Philippines, a country that suffers German sanctions for violating human rights.

The veto, however, ended up affecting the entire manufacture of the Guarani armored vehicle by Iveco, in Sete Lagoas (MG).

In order not to paralyze production, a Brazilian company was hired in March to deliver a similar gearbox. The play was dubbed “generic” among generals heard by the Sheetand it is not known for sure the impact that the change in manufacturing can have on armored performance.

The subject was discussed between Tomás and the Brazilian ambassador in Berlin, Roberto Jaguaribe, in the first meeting that the Army commander had on German soil, last week.

The Force reported that the purpose of the trip was “to strengthen ties between the Brazilian Land Force and its German counterpart and to explore, together with the friendly nation, present and future opportunities for projects and the development of solutions aimed at Defense”.

Tomás also met the German Army inspector, General Alfons Mais, and visited the Combat Simulation Center in Gardelegen. The Brazilian Force wants to use the space as a reference to improve the fields of instruction in Brazil, but the projects come up against budgetary issues.

The Guarani armored vehicle began to be produced in Brazil a decade ago. In recent years, it has become the main military vehicle to be traded with other countries, despite exports still falling short of expectations by the Army.

The vehicle has six wheels, carries up to 11 soldiers and can be piloted both on land and on water. It is resistant to rifle fire and grenade explosions, reaches 110 km/h and can be equipped with machine guns and cannons.

Ukraine even asked Brazil, on April 27, for authorization to import up to 450 Guarani armored vehicles, to be used for transport and ambulance in the war.

“We request your authorization for the said vehicles to be negotiated, which will be purchased through special funds from friendly countries that understand and share our immediate need and pain”, wrote the Defense Attaché of Ukraine, Colonel Volodimir Savchenko, in a letter to the minister of Defence, José Múcio Monteiro.

The Lula government (PT) denied the request.

Germany’s ban on exporting Brazilian armored vehicles to the Philippines was initially seen as retaliation against the Planalto Palace. The embargo had been announced days after the president denied the sale of tank ammunition to Berlin. The final destination of the cargo was Ukraine, for use in the war against Russia.

The munitions were part of a German aid package for Ukraine. The European country would buy R$ 25 million in ammunition for the Leopard-1 tanks, armored vehicles used by Ukrainians and Brazilians.

Brazil’s refusal was due to the position of neutrality that the Lula government decided to adopt in the face of the conflict in Eastern Europe.

Planalto and Itamaraty maintain relations with Moscow and condemn both the invasion and the sanctions regime imposed by the West on the Russians.

The embargo, however, is part of a decision by Berlin to prevent pressure on the Philippine government to adopt a new stance in cases of human rights violations. As a sanction, Germany decided to veto the supply of defense material – which even involves German-made items used in equipment produced in other countries.

A similar case occurred with Embraer. In 2020, the Brazilian company closed a contract with the Philippines for the sale of six A-29 Super Tucano aircraft, which have German parts.

Germany vetoed the sale of the planes with their components to the Philippines at the time, and Embraer sought other solutions to deliver the aircraft within the period stipulated in the contract.