President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva participated, this Wednesday (16), the celebration of Army Day at the Headquarters General of Force, in Brasilia. The institution turns 377 on the 19th. The event also celebrated the 80th anniversary of the victory of the military of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force (FEB) in Italy, in World War II.
Commander Tomá Paiva and President Lula celebrate Army Day and 80 years of FEB victories in World War II – MARCELO CAMARGO/AGENCY BRAZIL
“Our fortress, as a state institution fully devoted to the constitutional mission, stems from the impartiality and professionalism that should always characterize our actions,” said the army commander, General Tomás Paiva, in the reading of order of the day.
Paiva defended investments in the army and, in the international scenario, suggested extra attention to “rapid and at the same time deep transformation” in the “traditional geopolitical structures”. “Investments in defense have been growing exponentially in all regions of the globe, a reality that suggests to our country extra attention to the protection of Brazilians and the assets enshrined by the Constitution,” he said.
“A defesa nacional precisa estar preparada para enfrentar ameaças híbridas, difusas e multidimensionais, que não se manifestam claramente como os conflitos convencionais do passado. A diplomacia ativa e Forças Armadas robustas, representando as instituições de Estado, devem caminhar lado a lado para garantir a nossa independência, promover a igualdade soberana entre as nações e contribuir para a solução pacífica dos conflitos internacionais”, acrescentou o Commander of the Army.
The general cited the corporation’s recent acquisitions and recalled government stimuli to boost the development of technologies of interest to national sovereignty and defense. Projects linked to the Nova Indústria Brasil Program (NIB) total R $ 112.9 billion in investmentsbeing R $ 79.8 billion of public resources and R $ 33.1 billion from the private sector.
Army Day honors the victory in the battle of the Guararapes, a confrontation between Portuguese and Brazilians against Dutch. “Locked in 1648, in Pernambuco, gathered Brazilians of different backgrounds – indigenous, Africans, Europeans and mestizos – who fought with brave and boldness, under the same flag, to defend the homeland soil against foreign invasion,” recalled the commander.
“Today, our strength continues to honor the legacy of these heroes, which will always be remembered. In combating transactional threats at borders, as well as in the support of indigenous peoples vulnerable or those affected by natural disasters, our performance, integrated with other institutions, has shown excellence and prompt response, bringing immediate relief to affected Brazilians,” he added.
During today’s ceremony, authorities and civil and military institutions were awarded the Order of Military Merit, the Brazilian Army Medal and the Tribute Medal to the FEB. The latter is granted to those who collaborated for the preservation and diffusion of the historical memory of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force in World War II. About 25,000 Brazilian soldiers fought in Europe at the time.
“The FEB stood out in decisive battles, such as Monte Castello, Castelnuovo, Montese and Fornovo Di Taro, where, alongside allied forces, he inflicted severe defeats to the enemy, contributing to the liberation of occupied territories and the end of conflict in Europe. among the nations that fought for democracy and peace ”remembered General Tomás Paiva.
