On 28 January, the Latin American Security Research Group (LAS) hosted a visit by Brazil's Minister of Defence, José Mucio Monteiro Filho, for a discussion on Brazil's defence priorities and the evolving security landscape in Latin America.
As the largest country in the region - spanning approximately 8.5 million square kilometres and sharing more than 16,000 km of land borders - Brazil faces increasingly complex challenges to its defence sector and strategic environment. In recent years, Latin America has had to contend with the expansion of organised crime, border instability, an unprecedented refugee and migration crisis and growing great power competition, which culminated in the U.S. military intervention in Venezuela in January.
In his remarks, Minister Mucio addressed several of these issues and discussed other key topics facing the Brazilian defence sector. He addressed the challenges of modernising Brazil's armed forces, the role of conscription, defence budget constraints, U.S. presence in the region and border security. The talk concluded with an open conversation with staff and students, during which Minister Mucio answered questions from undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students, as well as staff members and researchers from the Department of War Studies and the King's Brazil Institute.
Dr Vinicius de Carvalho, who chaired the discussion, noted:
Minister Mucio's visit reflects LAS's long-standing outreach efforts. Beyond producing research outputs, our main objective is to generate positive impact in the region. Allowing students to have an open and honest discussion with senior policymakers from the region helps shape future leaders, open new channels with Latin America, and foster policy impact. This visit was a clear representation of LAS's core mission.
The event formed part of LAS' key outreach efforts to promote open dialogue on security, defence and strategy in Latin America, whilst facilitating engagement between policymakers, scholars and students.
The discussion was organised, hosted, and chaired by Dr Vinicius de Carvalho, and featured Matthew Moran, Head of the Department of War Studies; Andreza de Souza Santos, Director of the King's Brazil Institute; Dr Eleonora Natale, LAS group lead; and LAS researcher Dr Raphael Lima.
