Brazil's Lula Defends His Defense Outlay and Backs Chavez

[Judi Lynn]

Brazil's Lula Defends His Defense Outlay and Backs Chavez
Written by Newsroom
Monday, 21 September 2009

The president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, denied South America had embarked in an arms race and justified purchases by Brazil, Chile, Venezuela and Colombia the four countries at the forefront of military hardware expenditure.

"I don't believe we can see a signal or a hypothesis of an arms race in South America, each country needs a minimum of security and a minimum system of defense to safeguard its borders," said Lula.

Brazil needs to refurbish its military equipment and update our industry, "that is why all our hardware incorporation involves technology transfer," he added pointing out that the country needs all the investment in defense to protect "our long coastline, our hydrocarbons reserves and to combat the drugs threats along our territorial borders."

He underlined that for Brazil the latest deals are "an investment in defense and technology."

Lula also said that Chile and Colombia have the "best organized Armed Forces of the continent."

More:
http://www.brazzilmag.com/content/view/11233 /