Peace, a word derived from the Latin pax or pacis, which means absence of war. In fact, it corresponds to the main objective of humanity and the condition that cannot be dispensed with in order to ensure other fundamental rights. It translates into the possibility of living without fear, under the light of hope, order, justice, and civility.
Peace, so celebrated and so longed for, but which is sometimes threatened by armed conflicts that bring the pain of the loss of loved ones, hunger, and abuses against human rights and dignity. Peace, such an abstract goal, but so valuable.
Today the world commemorates the International Day of Peacekeepers, also known as peacekeepers. This date remembers May 29, 1948, when the blue berets, under the banner of the UN, were sent to monitor the Arab-Israeli ceasefire agreement.
Recognizing the value of peacekeepers transcends the simple celebration of a special date. We owe them our admiration and pride, convinced that, thanks to their efforts, we have the hope of inhabiting a more fraternal and safer world.
In the first half of the 20th century, humanity experienced conflicts of global dimensions. Millions of people suffered the consequences of wars. Whole nations were devastated and an immense effort was needed for the reconstruction of contemporary society. After these regrettable episodes in history, the United Nations was created and, under its tutelage, peace missions were started, aiming at mitigating the effects of new conflicts.
Since the advent of this global effort, Brazil has participated actively and successfully with the presence of military observers, staff officers, police officers, troop contingents, vehicles, aircraft and ships, which have been present in 42 of the 71 peace operations that have been conducted.
The continuous involvement in these peace initiatives reflects the constitutional precepts that guide Brazil in its international relations with regard to the prevalence of human rights, the defense of peace, respect for the sovereignty of nations, and the search for peaceful solutions to conflicts. The Brazilian tradition also defends cooperation for the progress of humanity, self-determination of peoples, and the principle of non-intervention.
In this sense, it is worth mentioning the action of more than 3,600 military personnel of the Brazilian Navy in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), between 2011 and 2021, using ships and aircraft, in rotation, among which we highlight the Frigates Constituição, Liberal, Independência and União, in addition to the Patrol Vessel Apa and the Corveta Barroso, which operated for a long period of time more than 8 thousand miles from their bases.
The Brazilian Army’s participation in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) was another outstanding example of the Brazilian military’s commitment to peace. In Haiti, more than 37 thousand Navy, Army, Air Force and Auxiliary Forces Blue Berets took turns taking security, support and solidarity to that friendly nation.
The Brazilian Air Force participated, between 1960 and 1964, in the United Nations Organization Peacekeeping Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (ONUC), with four contingents that operated fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft in the accomplishment of transport and rescue missions in a hostile region.
In several situations, Brazil has carried out missions to lead the military component in peace operations. During the period in which the country participated in UNIFIL, ten Brazilian admirals commanded the mission’s Maritime Task Force. In MINUSTAH, Brazil occupied the command of the military component for thirteen consecutive years, with eleven generals as Force Commander, in what became the most relevant employment of Brazilian troops abroad since World War II.
In the United Nations Organization Mission for the Stabilization of the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), from 2013 to 2016, and as of 2018, Brazil occupies the leadership of the military component with a Brazilian Army general, acting as Force Commander. There is also the Chief of Staff of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, which is exercised by a general officer of the Brazilian Army. All this evidence confirms the ability of the Brazilian military to lead and conduct efforts for world peace, acting in complex and unstable environments.
Currently, among the peace operations underway in Cyprus, Yemen, Lebanon, Mali, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Western Sahara, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Abyei, Brazil employs 88 military personnel who perform individual missions or integrate multinational troops, 70 men and 18 women.
The growing Brazilian female participation in peace missions reflects the alignment with the “Women, Peace and Security” agenda and the “UN Gender Parity Strategy”. Brazilian female soldiers have stood out for their valuable contribution.
For the preparation of its contingents and individual missions for peace operations, Brazil has two centers of international reference: the Brazilian Joint Center for Peace Operations (CCOPAB) and the Naval Center for Peace Operations (COpPazNav). The courses conducted in these facilities are certified by the UN Department of Peace Operations’ Integrated Training Service.
We also highlight the Brazilian participation in various forums, aimed at exchanging experiences and increasing interoperability in these actions. This year, Brazil holds the presidency of the Latin American Association of Training Centers for Peace Operations.
In this period in which Brazil celebrates 200 years of independence, following the historical events that occurred after the cry of Ipiranga and led to the consolidation of our political emancipation, we emphasize that only the strong have the capacity to guarantee peace. With this focus, the federal government, through the Ministry of Defense and the joint efforts of the Navy, Army, and Air Force, strives to strengthen the national defense structure and works to maintain the military capacity for employment in this type of operation when necessary.
The search for full operational capability and the achievement of technological autonomy by the Armed Forces are permanent objectives of the Ministry of Defense. In addition, the preparation of operational units and the training of military personnel always aim at the best use of resources, in order to promptly meet the demands that come to the Brazilian state.
As a result of this effort, Brazil recently obtained an unprecedented certification. A Brazilian force was raised to level 3 in the UN Readiness System, as a Marine Rapid Reaction Force, occupying the highest level of evaluation for employment in peacekeeping missions. Furthermore, the Brazilian Army has certified, besides the Rapid Reaction Force, an Engineering Company, two Infantry Battalions, and a Field Hospital.
Equipped with ready troops, leadership capacity, compatible military equipment, and professional motivation, Brazil continually seeks to improve the preparation of the military component at the disposal of the Brazilian state. This will provide the country with the possibility of integrating, at any time and anywhere, a new peacekeeping mission, in line with the United Nations peacekeeping capabilities readiness system and aligned with the national geopolitical stature.
Today, the world is again in an arms race. But besides keeping itself permanently updated in its military capabilities and in the constant search for the state of the art in national defense, with Armed Forces adequately equipped and prepared for conflicts, we also count on the strongest weapons we have that can really avoid the scourge of war, which are dialogue and fraternity, characteristics of the Brazilian people.
Committed to world peace and the peaceful resolution of conflicts, Brazil shows its strength, represented by peacekeepers who, even at the risk of their lives, are committed to the search for a safer and more stable world.
Thus, the Brazilian tradition of 75 years of hard work and sacrifice in the service of world peace gives us the right to recognize today the more than 53 thousand military personnel who acted as Blue Helmets of Hope.
Finally, we express our gratitude and respect to the 41 Brazilians who departed this world during the execution of peace operations. We recognize their extreme sacrifice and we pay them our respects, and at the same time we sympathize with their families.
Peace begins in each one of us.
Brasília (DF), May 29, 2023.