Brasília (DF) – The Commander of the Mexican Army, General of the General Staff Celestino Ávila Astudillo, paid an institutional visit to the Commander of the Brazilian Army, General of the Army Tomás Miguel Miné Ribeiro Paiva. The general officer of the friendly nation was received at the Army Headquarters in Brasilia on September 24, escorted by the Dragons of Independence of the 1st Guards Cavalry Regiment, and receiving salutes from the Cayenne Battery of the 32nd Field Artillery Group.
In the morning, General Ávila took part in an audience with General Tomás, in which they discussed issues of mutual interest relating to both institutions. On that occasion, he was awarded the Brazilian Army Medal. “This contact is very important for strengthening relations between the Mexican and Brazilian armies. The purpose of the visit is to further strengthen institutional ties,” he said.
In the afternoon, the Commander of the Mexican Army attended presentations at the Logistics Command and the Land Operations Command. The trip to Brazil also includes a visit to the Army Artillery Command, based in Formosa (GO), scheduled for September 25.
In addition to the bonds of friendship between Brazil and Mexico, General Tomás pointed out that the countries have an intense exchange of personnel in training activities. “Mexican military personnel take courses here in Brazil and our military personnel take courses in Mexico, as well as cadets from both countries taking part in competitions and visiting their academies. So I think this integration through military diplomacy is a good thing, as it often helps with issues that traditional diplomacy has some difficulty resolving,” commented the Commander.