Primeiro-Tenente (RM2-T) Vanessa Mendonça – Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Discuss modern, creative, and efficient solutions to common problems and issues in the Western Hemisphere. This is the keynote of the Marine Leaders of the Americas Conference (MLAC 2022), which in this edition counts with the presence of representatives from 21 countries, besides the host country, Brazil.
The event is an exchange of experiences between the commands of the Marine Corps, thus strengthening the bonds of friendship and building a harmonious and cooperative environment. In all, representatives from Argentina, Bolivia, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, USA, France, Guatemala, Holland, England, Mexico, Namibia, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Dominican Republic, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Uruguay are participating. During MLAC 2022, the leaders involved participate in bilateral meetings and visit Military Organizations of the Marine Corps of the Brazilian Navy.
The event takes place in the year of celebration of the Bicentennial of Brazil’s Independence and the 200th anniversary of the Fleet. “In this long and victorious trajectory full of challenges that the maritime and fluvial operational environment imposes on us, it is important to also reflect on the current moment of the Brazilian Navy, particularly the Marine Corps.
And this conference is an excellent opportunity to contribute to the evolutionary process of the participating Forces through the exchange of knowledge and experiences, aiming at the security and defense of our peoples,” said the Minister of Defense, Paulo Sérgio Nogueira de Oliveira.
The Commander of the Navy, Admiral of Fleet Almir Garnier Santos, highlighted that the event demonstrates the good relationship between the Marine Corps and emphasized the historical performance of the Brazilian Marines.
“The Brazilian Marine Corps has a lot of history. It came together with the Royal Brigade and with the initiating Navy, which was present in the main events that made us a unified country. Today, we have an outstanding participation in peace missions, we have the endorsement of the United Nations and we are almost always the first to arrive at the places in the Brazilian territory, when called upon, as for example in Petrópolis“, he affirmed.
“Modern conflicts ratify the strategic importance of the Marine Forces. We note that more than 70% of the earth’s surface is covered by water and approximately 80% of the world’s population is concentrated in urban settlements, in narrow coastal strips. The continuous evolution of threats, which, for example, reintroduces the old practice of piracy, once again affronts International Law, putting our maritime commerce at risk. This is why this kind of conference is so important. We need to be together, sharing the responsibilities and experiences imposed on the Marine troops of our countries“, points out the Commandant-General of the Marine Corps of the Brazilian Navy, Fleet Admiral (FN) Jorge Armando Nery Soares.
For the Commander of the United States Marine Corps Reserve and Commander of the Marine Corps Forces South, Vice Admiral David G. Bellon, the conference provides an open and honest dialogue where everyone agrees on the seriousness of the shared threats in the hemisphere and looks for ways to act together.
“Here we hope to strengthen relationships, as we understand that relationships between leaders are of utmost importance. We will have the opportunity to learn from each other, and understand each of our particularities and problems, so that we can work better together in the future,” he said.
The first meeting, then called the Conference of Marine Corps Leaders of the Americas, brought together the Commanders of the Navies and Marine Infantry of 16 countries in Guayaquil, Ecuador, from July 16 to 19, 2001. In addition to Ecuador (2001), the MLAC was held in Colombia (2004), Chile (2006), Brazil (2009), Peru (2011), Colombia (2014), and Mexico (2018).
*** Translated by Defconpress Team***