Brazil: Minister advocates increasing the defense budget to 2% of the GDP

The Minister of Defense, José Múcio Monteiro, advocated this Tuesday (11) the gradual increase of the defense budget to 2% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP, the sum of all goods and services in the country).

According to him, the amount is currently at 1.3%.

José Múcio participated, in Rio de Janeiro, in the opening ceremony of LAAD Defence & Security 2023, the largest defense sector fair in Latin America.

According to the minister, however, it is difficult to discuss the increase when hunger and unemployment are high.

“We have resource needs in other areas,” the minister said.

“We have a lot of unemployed people, a lot of people going hungry.”

“It is difficult to discuss this [increasing the Defense budget] when hunger and unemployment are still our biggest adversaries.”

Despite citing unemployment as a priority challenge, Múcio said defense investments could generate jobs.

“It is an industry that generates a lot of jobs, that pays a lot of taxes,” he said.

According to him, 20 bilateral meetings were scheduled on Tuesday with representatives from other countries interested in buying Brazilian products or establishing partnerships with Brazilian companies in the defense sector.

In a press interview, the minister said that the federal government’s relationship with the military is “absolutely pacified.

“Each one knows what their role is, and each one is aware of their needs. Brazil needs everybody.”

Múcio highlighted that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva had given prestige to the military and pointed out that officers were recently received at the Planalto Palace in a promotion ceremony.

The minister also talked about studies to purchase new Gripen fighter jets and the 36 already acquired by the Brazilian government.

“The Air Force says there is a need, but you must check cash and priorities.”

“We are studying it, and it is still embryonic,” he said.