Governments seek to strengthen relationships between countries. “Today we signed yet another unprecedented agreement with the United States,” said the defense minister.
This Sunday (8), in Miami, the governments of Brazil and the United States of America signed an agreement in the military area. The Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) agreement. The objective of the RDT&E is to pave the way for both governments to develop future projects together. Aligned with the mutual interest of both parties, and thus enabling further improvement, as well as providing new military capabilities.
“We signed a historic agreement today, which will pave the way for even greater sharing of experiences and information. We work very closely with our allied nations.” said Craig Fallero, Admiral of the US Navy.
signature of the agreement
Jair Bolsonaro attended the ceremony for the signing of the agreement at Southern Command, which oversees the US Armed Forces in Latin America and the Caribbean. He was the first Brazilian president to visit the military unit.
The head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces of Brazil, Air Lieutenant Brigadier Raul Botelho, and the Commander of the United States Southern Command, Fleet Admiral Craig Feller, also participated in the signing of the RDT&E, at Southern Command.
The Minister of Defence, Fernando Azevedo e Silva, of Foreign Affairs, Ernesto Araujo, of Mines and Energy, Bento Albuquerque, and of the Institutional Security Office, Augusto Heleno, participated in the ceremony.
In a statement to the press, the Minister of Defense emphasized Brazil's historic partnership with the United States. “We were together for democracy in the Second World War and today we are here discussing aspects of the regional environment” he said.
Regarding RDT&E, Azevedo e Silva highlighted its originality. “Today we signed yet another unprecedented agreement with the United States,” he pointed out. “Few countries have an agreement for the development of the defense area, research, development, tests and evaluation of aspects concerning defense”, concluded the minister, thanking Admiral Feller.
About RDT&E
RDT&E is the first step for Brazil and the USA to jointly develop projects in the Defense area. The agreement establishes and defines general terms and conditions that must be applied at the beginning. As well as conducting and managing research, development, testing and evaluation activities. Each project agreement that will be developed by both parties must be executed in accordance with the terms of the RDT&E, as well as the respective national laws and regulations of each party.
The RDT&E will be able to expand the Defense Industrial Base's access to the American market, as well as the formalization of other pacts in the Defense sector, reducing bureaucratic processes in the trade of products in the segment between Brazil and the USA.
The classification of Brazil as a preferential non-NATO ally was a necessary step to make RDT&E viable. The agreement expands Brazilian participation in the US market, and may facilitate the entry of Brazilian products in other 28 NATO member countries, most of which have access to the American Defense fund.
The RDT&E has the adoption of the NATO standard for all products that are produced, as one of its pillars. The RDT&E does not prevent the parties from formalizing any other agreement in the area of research, development, testing and evaluation.
