Military personnel spend R$56 million on international travel

Military trips for courses, training, sports competitions, fairs, institutional relations totaled R$56 million in 2023 – 16% more than expenses in 2019 (in updated values), the first year of the Bolsonaro government. In September and October last year, R$4.3 million was spent on study trips for 271 military personnel in Washington. 186 senior officers were awarded. There was also a 3X3 basketball championship in Vilnius (Lithuania), a judo championship in Santo Domingo and the Paris Air Show.

The strategic study trip to Washington, to take the Army Policy, Strategy and Senior Management course, included 53 senior officers (ranks of colonel, lieutenant colonel and major), from September 23rd to October 3rd. Expenses for daily allowances and tickets totaled R$1.28 million.

From October 14th to 21st, another delegation flew to Washington, this time with 88 members, 49 of whom were senior officers. The objective was to provide interns on the Policy and Strategy Higher Studies Course with “expanding knowledge about the country’s strategic environment”. Expenses reached R$1.3 million. Simultaneously, also in Washington, an Interdisciplinary Field Study trip was carried out, under the coordination of the Higher Defense School, with 131 students, 84 of whom were senior officers. Another R$1.6 million in the taxpayer’s account. The two trips in October were the responsibility of the Ministry of Defense.

There was also an exchange trip for the “standout students” from the sergeant improvement courses, again in the American capital, from October 15th to 23rd. Daily expenses for 16 sergeants totaled R$244 thousand.

Not even during the Jair Bolsonaro government, which had a much closer relationship with the military, there was so much international travel by military personnel. His trips in 2019 – the first year of the Bolsonaro government – ​​totaled R$35.9 million. In values ​​updated for inflation, it was R$46.8 million.

3X3 Basketball, Wrestling, triathlon

Expenses for sports competitions were maintained in 2023. In July, 14 military personnel – eight of them sergeants – participated in the 2nd 3X3 Military World Basketball Championship of the International Military Sports Council. The trip cost R$172,000 between nights and tickets. 30 soldiers were also sent to the 41st World Military Judo Championship, from July 24th to August 2nd, in Santo Domingo de Gusmán, in the Dominican Republic. The caravan had 20 sergeants. The expense ended up at R$206 thousand.

The Military Triathlon World Championship, in Brive-la-Gaillarde, France, from May 5th to 9th, received a Brazilian delegation with 19 members. In addition to 9 sergeants, 9 senior officers were part of the delegation. Seven soldiers were at the World Military Sailing Championship, held from June 7th to 14th, in Piraeus, Greece. Expenses were R$82 thousand.

A delegation of 14 soldiers attended the World Military Pentathlon Championship, in Málaga (Spain) and Gothenburg (Sweden), with expenses of R$ 197 thousand. The Brazilian team had six sergeants and seven officers, three of them seniors. The first World Military Half Marathon Championship, in Lucerne, Switzerland, featured 11 Brazilians, almost all of them sergeants. The trip cost R$135,000. The trip to the World Military Wrestling Championship in Baku, Azerbaijan, at the end of November, cost R$120,000.

Paris Air Show

Seventeen Brazilian military personnel participated in the 54th edition of the International Aeronautics and Space Salon – Paris Air Show, in Le Bourget, Paris. Two general officers and the Minister of Defense, José Múcio Monteiro, were at the event. Expenses reached R$394,000, including R$270 on air tickets. From there, the Minister of Defense went to the Lisbon Legal Forum, accompanied by two advisors. The flight of the Minister of Aeronautics, Marcelo Damasceno, to Paris cost R$45 thousand.

At the time the minister’s trip to Paris was revealed, the Ministry of Defense told the blog that minister José Múcio, in addition to participating in the Paris Air Show, met with the French Minister of Defense, Sébastien Lecornu, to discuss opportunities for partnerships in the defense sector, such as the Submarine Program, “a strategic project of the Brazilian Navy and the result of a partnership with France, which provides for technology transfer”. The minister also had lunch with the President of France, Emmanuel Macron.

The Air Force Command stated that trips on “institutional missions in the service of the Brazilian Air Force involve a series of strategic objectives, such as preparation, training, exchange of experiences and strengthening diplomatic ties with friendly nations; in addition to contributing to the construction of a solid and globally respected institutional image”.

The Army Command stated that international trips “aim to meet objectives such as exchanges and cooperation activities with friendly nations, with the aim of building and strengthening relationships of mutual trust in addition to enabling the training of human resources.”

The Army’s response

The Army informs that the strategic study trip carried out by the Army Policy, Strategy and Senior Administration Course (CPEAEx) and the International Strategic Studies Course (CIEE) of the Army Command and General Staff College (ECEME) takes place annually , within a context of exchange of academic activities between the Brazilian Army and the Army of the United States of America (USA).

From September 23 to October 3, 2023, 44 military personnel, including instructors and students, visited various US military and government agencies. The trip allowed students to debate topics related to Politics, Defense, Strategy and International Relations; update and expand knowledge on matters relating to Brazilian and US Defense policy, from the perspective of Brazilian authorities on commission in the US, and verify the factors that affect the international situation in the various fields of power, with emphasis on the political and military fields , from the perspective of the US Department of Defense.