Brazil has a large military with a growing international role. Today we’re going to learn about the different arms of the Forças Armadas, or Brazilian Armed Forces.
1. Exército Brasileiro (Brazilian Army)
The Brazilian army was created in 1822. It has fought in numerous wars, including the Paraguay War (1864-1870) and the War of Canudos (1893-1897), and also sent a small force to fight in World War I. It sent 25,000 men to support the Allies during World War II, in what was called the Força Expedicionária Brasileira. The army also ran a military dictatorship that controlled the Brazilian government from 1964 to 1985. More recently, the army has participated in UN peacekeeping missions, including East Timor (1995-1997), Angola (1995-1997), and Haiti (2004-present).
Here’s a video describing some of the army’s vehicles.
2. Aeronáutica / Força Aérea Brasileira (Brazilian Air Force)
The Brazilian air force was created in 1941 by President Getúlio Vargas, and began operating during Brazil’s WWII expedition. It is the largest air force in Latin America. Along with training, missions, and humanitarian assistance, the air force is responsible for controlling Brazilian airspace. The air force is also responsible for air patrol of the borders and Amazon region, as well as search and rescue operations.
The Brazilian navy was created in 1822, and is the largest navy in Latin America. It was also one of the first navies in the world to have an aircraft carrier. The navy fought in numerous wars along with the army, including the Cisplatine War, the “Ragamuffins” War (Guerra dos Farrapos), WWI, and WWII.
