Dr Teixeira’s central argument was clear. While the Brazilian Army aspires to be a professional ‘fighting force’, focused on deterrence and defence, it is repeatedly pulled into what he described as a ‘Salvation Army’ role.
One of the most striking points raised during the discussion was the breadth of non-military missions undertaken by the Brazilian Army. From distributing vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic to managing the logistics of the National High School Exam (ENEM) to prevent cheating, the Army often acts as the state’s logistical backbone.
The 2024 climate disaster in Rio Grande do Sul was highlighted as a critical example. The operation deployed 50,000 personnel and consumed nearly the entire annual fuel budget of the Armed Forces to save lives and repair infrastructure.
Despite these domestic demands, Dr Teixeira emphasised that Brazil is not immune from hard security threats. The discussion moved to rising tensions between Venezuela and Guyana, and to Brazil’s response through ‘Operation Atlas’. Dr Teixeira explained that the operation functioned not only as a deterrent against Venezuelan tanks, but as a diplomatic signal of independence from the Maduro regime.
The neighbouring country is also at the centre of another major operation involving the Brazilian Armed Forces: Operation Welcome. Since 2018, the Brazilian government has coordinated this operation in response to the influx of Venezuelan immigrants crossing the border into the state of Roraima.
According to Dr Teixeira, the Brazilian Armed Forces were initially only to be involved temporarily, until the operation was up and running. However, they have remained involved ever since alongside the public sector, international organisations, NGOs and civil society groups. Dr Teixeira also highlighted that ongoing tensions between Caracas and Washington DC have heightened concerns over border security, including the risk of renewed migration flows and the increased presence of Venezuelan criminal networks into Brazil.
Dr Teixeira also addressed also addressed Brazil’s internal war with organised crime groups such as the Comando Vermelho (Red Command). In Rio de Janeiro, criminal organisations have fortified urban areas using trenches and heavy weaponry, forcing the military to intervene with infantry fighting vehicles and special forces, as regular police capabilities are often insufficient.
The Army must adapt to these threats, but as Dr Teixeira acknowledged, the integration of the Army, Navy, and Air Force remains a significant cultural challenge. Another challenge explained was that the Army cannot simply close bases or move units for strategic efficiency because, in many small towns, the military is the largest employer of young people. This creates a paradox: to modernise and become the professional fighting force it wants to be, the Brazilian Army must first solve the socio-economic dependencies of the state it serves.
For Brazilian Master’s students in the Department of War Studies at King’s College London, the talk offered a valuable contrast to European approaches to defence, which often prioritise external borders and interstate conflict. In Brazil, defence is closely intertwined with development and internal stability. This perspective provided a compelling alternative framework for thinking about the role of armed forces in contemporary security.
The opportunity to hear Dr Teixeira speak candidly about defence issues rarely covered in mainstream media is one of the privileges of studying at King’s. As the University marks a ten year partnership with the Brazilian Navy, the event also highlighted the value of sustained dialogue between academia and the military in generating and sharing knowledge.
The event was organised by Dr Eleonora Natale, Lead of the Latin American Security Research Group, and Dr Raphael Lima, Project Lead of the Military Innovation Network.