José Múcio Monteiro Filho has taken office as Minister of Defense of Brazil in a ceremony, held yesterday in Brasilia, which was also attended by the new heads of the country’s three Armed Forces: Admiral Marcos Sampaio Olsen, commander of the Navy; General Julio Cesar Arruda, commander of the Army; and Lieutenant Brigadier Marcelo Kanitz Damasceno, commander of the Air Force.
In his first speech as minister, Monteiro highlighted his gratitude and responsibility in accepting the invitation of the President of the Republic, Luiz Inácio da Silva, to lead Defense. He also stressed his respect for democracy and the Armed Forces. “Our country has peaceful traditions. Brazil and its Armed Forces have always been at the service of peace, democracy, respect for institutions and cooperation with their neighbors,” he said.
The minister assured that he will attach great importance to the strategic projects of the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces: “I will seek to increase the exchange of military structures with the Brazilian Defense Industrial Base and with the academic world, in order to stimulate technical, technological, scientific and commercial evolution and, with this, contribute to national development and for the country to remain at the levels it currently occupies in the international cycles in the United States. who participates.”