Governments seek to strengthen relations between countries. “Today we signed 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 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 enable greater improvement, as well as provide new military capabilities.
“We signed a historic agreement today that will pave the way for even greater sharing of expertise and information. We work very closely with our allied nations,” said U.S. Navy Admiral Craig Fallero.
Signing of the agreement
Jair Bolsonaro attended the signing ceremony at the Southern Command, which oversees the U.S. military in Latin America and the Caribbean. He was the first Brazilian president to visit the military unit.
Also participating in the signing of the RDT&E, at Southern Command, were the Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Brazilian Armed Forces, Air Force Lieutenant-Brigadier Raul Botelho, and the Commander of the United States Southern Command, Admiral Craig Feller.
The Minister of Defense, 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 Defense Minister emphasized Brazil's historic partnership with the United States. “We stood together for democracy during 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 unprecedented nature. “Today we signed another unprecedented agreement with the United States,” he emphasized. “Few countries have an agreement for the development of the defense area, research, development, testing and evaluation of aspects related to defense,” concluded the minister, thanking Admiral Feller.
About RDT&E
The RDT&E is the first step for Brazil and the United States to jointly develop projects in the defense sector. The agreement establishes and defines general terms and conditions that should apply at the beginning, as well as on the conduct and management of research, development, testing and evaluation activities. Each project agreement that comes to 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.
Brazil's classification as a preferred non-NATO ally was a necessary step to make RDT&E viable. The agreement expands Brazil's participation in the U.S. market and could facilitate the entry of Brazilian products into 28 other NATO member countries, many of which have access to the U.S. 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..