Washington: In order to enhance their
cooperation in the field of security and research and
development of military systems, US and Brazil signed a
defense cooperation agreement.
The agreement in this regard was signed by US Defense
Secretary Robert Gates and visiting Brazilian Minister Nelson
Jobim.
The two countries also agreed to re-establish the
Brazil-US Defense Bilateral Working Group.
"The agreement is a formal acknowledgement of the many
security interests and values we share as the two most
populous democracies in the Americas," Gates said.
These include strengthening of democratic institutions
around the world, promotion of economic growth and
opportunity, overcoming poverty, supporting international
peace and security, developing sources of sustainable energy,
and addressing global environmental challenges.
"These common interests make Brazil's growing involvement
and significance in global affairs a welcome development to
the US," Gates said.
The defense cooperation between the US and Brazil sets an
important example, a partnership that offers a transparent,
positive model for engagement throughout the Americas, he
added.
"This agreement will lead to a deepening of US-Brazil
defense cooperation at all levels and will demonstrate how
much more effectively we can confront shared security
challenges when we work in partnership," Gates said.
Speaking on the occasion, Brazilian Defense Minister said
the agreement shows the need for more cooperation between
Brazil and the US.
"This agreement will allow us to strengthen our
relationship without any mental reservation, everything based
on trust," Jobim said.
"The peace in the world as we know it will depend much
and much more on transparency and this kind of relationship
that we have now.
There are several mutual topics that we have to deal
with, following this line of behaviour," he said.
The Defense Cooperation Agreement between the two
countries include cooperation in the fields of research and
development, logistics support, technology security, and the
acquisition of defense products and services; and information
exchanges on topics such as operational experiences, defense
technology, and international peacekeeping operations.
It also includes combined military training and
education, and joint military exercises; collaboration
relating to military systems and equipment, exchanges of
instructors and students from defense institutions, naval ship
visits and commercial initiatives related to defense matters.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, April 13, 2010, 10:38