Uncommon in the world of diplomacy, President Jair Bolsonaro's (non-party) unhinged speech against sanctions against Brazil in the face of the devastation of the Amazon is, in the opinion of experts, disconnected from the country's current Armed Forces arrangement.
Although it has gained more space in the public budget, the Ministry of Defense invests only about 25% of its expenditure on inactive military personnel and pensioners. Spending on active service members is also less than the cost of reservists and pensioners — such as the lifetime allowances paid to military daughters.
"We have just seen a great candidate for the head of state say that, if I don't put out the fire in the Amazon, he will raise trade barriers against Brazil. And how can we deal with all this? Only diplomacy does not work; it is not , Ernesto [Araújo, Chancellor]? When you can't talk anymore, you have to have gunpowder, otherwise, it doesn't work," said the president.
Bolsonaro did not name Joe Biden, president-elect of the United States.
During the first presidential debate with Donald Trump, then a candidate for re-election, the Democrat said that "the rainforest in Brazil is being destroyed," which was contested by the Brazilian. Biden also said that he could impose sanctions on Brazil, which has been under pressure to adopt measures against environmental devastation.
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon