Lula’s meeting with commanders of the Armed Forces will discuss investments and dispel distrust for acts of 1/8.| Photo: Fernando Frazão/Agência Brasil

The three commanders of the Armed Forces met with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, this Monday afternoon (20), to discuss the modernization of the Armed Forces and put aside mistrust since the January 8 acts. The meeting was being articulated over the past week by Minister Rui Costa, from the Civil House, and the expectation was that it would take place later this week.

According to the president’s official agenda, the Minister of Defense, José Múcio; the Army Commander, General Tomás Miguel Miné Ribeiro Paiva; the Commander of the Navy, Admiral Marcos Sampaio Olsen; and Air Force Commander, Lieutenant-Brigadier Marcelo Kanitz Damasceno.

According to Rui Costa, the government intends to increase investments in the Armed Forces, possibly through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). However, he denied that the announcement of investments is “a caress to the military” to avoid a bigger crisis.

“Other nations in the world, for example, large and developed nations, carry out PPP projects to equip their Armed Forces. With this, they are able to anticipate investments that would not be possible if they were to depend only on annual budget resources”, stated Costa.

The depredation of the headquarters of the Three Powers on January 8 accentuated the mutual distrust between the military and President Lula that already existed before his inauguration. The president’s surroundings raise suspicions about the actions of the Armed Forces, which would have favored vandalism on January 8.