Brazil consolidates defence and military links with Argentina and Uruguay

by MercoPress News, February 14th, 2011.

Brazilian Defence minister Nelson Jobim begins this week a tour of neighbouring Mercosur partners where he is scheduled to sign a statement underlining the strategic relation with Argentina, and further on Uruguay’s interest in military cooperation and equipment.

According to Argentine sources the joint declaration reaffirms the “importance of the strategic relation between both countries” and is the continuation of what was agreed during the recent presidential summit of Dilma Rousseff with Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner in Buenos Aires.

Following talks with Argentine minister Arturo Puricelli, Jobim will visit the Tandanor and the CINAR shipyard complex, to see various naval workshops. One in particular will be that of Admiral Storni, where they currently run construction of the centre.

In Uruguay the former magistrate and brainchild of Unasur defence council will be meeting his counterpart Luis Rosadilla and later President Jose Mujica. Uruguay is interested in signing agreements with Brazil for the financing and purchase of defence equipment as well as a review of the current defence cooperation agreement. (continue reading… )