Military receive with surprise criticism of Salles against Armed Forces

Military leaders of the Armed Forces showed surprise and veiled discontent with the criticism made by Deputy Ricardo Salles (PL-SP) to the commanders of the Army, Navy and Air Force last week. In a hearing in the Chamber, Salles even suggested that it would not be necessary to invest in the defense of the homeland because Brazil would not have enemies.

The criticisms were interpreted by the military as one more attempt by the deputy to gain relevance in the national political scene and get support to run for mayor of São Paulo next year. The statements were given to People’s Gazette by officials linked to the top ranks of the Army and Navy who requested anonymity.

“We are spending money on fictitious enemies. With missiles from I don’t know where. The anti-aircraft battery. With whom to fight? With Argentina, which doesn’t even have dulce de leche anymore. What for?” said Salles.

But Salles’ statement comes at a time when the world is entering a new arms race. It is motivated by the growth of hostilities between the West and the axis that begins to be formed involving Russia, China, Iran and North Korea.

“The war in Ukraine shows us, for the umpteenth time in history, that a country cannot believe that, because it is experiencing a moment of peace, it will be free from war forever”, said reserve colonel Paulo Roberto da Silva Gomes Filho , master in military sciences and from the Army Command and General Staff School.

Brazil’s military investments are 50% below the world average

The commanders of the Army, Navy and Air Force and the Minister of Defense, José Múcio Monteiro Filho, were confronted by Salles while participating in a public hearing at the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee of the Chamber of Deputies, on the 17th. worrying scenario of lack of funds, which has prevented the proper functioning of the Forces.

The commander of the Navy, Admiral Marcos Sampaio Olsen, stated, for example, that 40% of the Navy fleet will be scrapped if investments are not made by 2028. 1.1% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to 2%.

“The material [bélico] has a life, after a certain point it becomes uneconomical”, said Olsen. He said that currently there is not enough fuel, lubricants and ammunition for adequate protection of the Brazilian coast. As an example, the admiral stated that the Navy needs to spend BRL 74 million per year on ammunition (which are perishable products), but only received BRL 6.8 million for this purpose.

Even with the proposed increase, Brazilian spending would still be below the world average of 2.2% of GDP.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), total global military spending increased by 3.7% in real terms in 2022, reaching a new record of US$2.240 trillion.

Military spending in Europe saw the biggest year-over-year increase in at least 30 years. In the opinion of Colonel Paulo Filho, this reflects the increase in geopolitical tensions in the world. Brazil, on the other hand, reduced its investments in defense by 11% in recent years.

Despite the criticism, the Armed Forces must have the necessary capabilities to fulfill their constitutional task of defending the homeland, according to the colonel. “These skills are not easily acquired. They demand heavy investment, indigenous technology development, skilled and trained soldiers to carry out their missions.

“An army can go a hundred years without being employed, but not a minute can go by without being prepared”, he added, quoting the diplomat Ruy Barbosa (1849 – 1923).

Salles accused Armed Forces of politicization

Deputy Ricardo Salles was Minister of the Environment during the government of former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL). Before that, he was already an admirer of the writer Olavo de Carvalho (1947-2022), who influenced several members of the previous government and used to attack the Armed Forces, which he considered “communists”.

Salles achieved a recent political victory when he was named rapporteur for the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI) on land invasions, the MST’s CPI. He had already announced that he is trying to get political support to run for mayor of São Paulo in 2024.

His main opponent in the election may be federal deputy Guilherme Boulos (PSOL-SP), who has already accused him of wanting to use the CPI to his advantage to favor the possible candidacy. Salles denies the political use of the commission.

Salles told the report that he was “very hurt” with the Armed Forces. During his speech in the Chamber, he even mentioned an episode that would have occurred while he was still a minister. In it, military personnel took him to fly by helicopter over the Amazon region and later passed a bill of more than R$ 1 million for the use of the aircraft to his ministry.

The deputy also used his speech to point out, without presenting evidence, an alleged “politicization” of the Armed Forces. “Although the discourse is of depoliticization of the Armed Forces, what we are seeing is a tucanization of the Armed Forces. Let General Arruda say so, when he was surprised by the speeches and speeches that later gave rise to his weakening at the head of the Army Command”.

General Júlio César Arruda was chosen by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to command the Army, but was replaced before completing a month in office. Lula, who had personally chosen the general, later alleged mistrust to justify the exchange.

Arruda was replaced by General Tomás Ribeiro Paiva, who served in the government of Fernando Henrique Cardoso as an adjutant. But Salles himself already worked in the PSDB, at the beginning of his career, in the government of São Paulo, in the management of Geraldo Alckmin, currently vice president of the Republic.

The deputy stated that the Army commander hides behind a depoliticization discourse, “but he took advantage of his relations with the São Paulo toucanate to assume the post. He leaked his speech as Commander of the Southeast to make a gesture of appreciation to Lula and consolidate his name as an alternative to General Arruda”.

Salles did not give details of any current effective connection of Paiva to the PSDB nor did he present evidence of politicization in the Army.

Deputy criticized participation of Armed Forces in public security in the country

In his attacks on the military, Salles also criticized the so-called Guarantee of Law and Order (GLO) operations, in which military personnel are used in public security actions in the national territory. He specifically referred to actions by the Armed Forces that took place during the Bolsonaro government to curb crimes in the Amazon rainforest region.

Salles told the report: “There are hundreds of millions of reais for operations that did not even fire a shot in the fight against organized crime, illegal mining, etc. They flee confrontation like the devil flees the cross, both in the GLO’s and on the border”. He also questioned the Air Force for not shooting down, in quantities that he would consider sufficient, small aircraft that enter national territory loaded with drugs.

Carrying out GLO operations also divides opinions among the military themselves. The understanding of the Armed Forces is that there is no legal basis to protect combatants from legal proceedings if they become involved in situations involving civilian deaths during operations. Therefore, many military also disapprove of its realization in the current mold.

Border defense system may become obsolete before it is finished

During the Chamber hearing, the commander of the Army, General Tomás Paiva, also spoke about the budgetary difficulties in keeping border protection programs in operation.

According to him, the Integrated Border Monitoring System (SISFRON) has so far only received 20% of the budget and, as it is behind schedule, runs the risk of becoming obsolete.

The system initially provided for investments of R$ 11.9 billion until 2022, but was extended to 2039. “It runs a real risk that, when the technology reaches everyone, this technology from the beginning of the program will already be obsolete. Organized crime, transnational crime, is also modernizing and using reverse technology against troops and against protection and public security agencies,” said the general.

SISFRON is an Army strategic program. Salles took advantage of the commander’s speech to criticize the vulnerability of borders. He also said that the country does not need the Navy project that is trying to develop a nuclear-powered submarine, with the aim of protecting the coast. He hinted that the technology could be purchased abroad, but did not mention that no country sells this type of technology.

“Criticism that, for example, the nuclear submarine program has been dragging on for decades omits the responsibilities of politicians who, for decades, did little to supply the program with the planned and necessary resources”, said Paulo Filho.

“It should be noted that the Brazilian program, if compared, for example, to the one recently announced by Aukus (mutual defense pact involving the United States, Australia and Great Britain), to supply Australia with a nuclear-powered submarine, is much more cheap”, he adds.

According to the analyst, who is the author of the Paulo Filho channel on YouTube, the Brazilian program has a total estimated cost of around R$ 40 billion. Aukus’ submarine program is worth around US$ 245 billion, about 30 times more expensive.