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Here is something I never thought about. Brazil is the world’s 13th most powerful country (militarily), the second most powerful country in the Western Hemisphere, and the most powerful country in Latin America. Wow!
Brazil has the fifth largest territory in the world, the seventh largest population in the world and is the eighth largest economy in the world.
There is no great need for investment in defense because we have a peaceful neighborhood on our continent.
The UK, South Korea, Israel are a few that are much smaller than Brazil and are more powerful.
Mexico actually has more people than Brazil and it isn’t in the top 25 of the world’s most powerful.
Russia is much bigger than Brazil but has considerably less people and it ranks as the 2nd most powerful in the world.
Also, the military isn’t only for defense. During natural disasters it can be of much help in the aftermath, protecting from drug trafficking and contraband (would be worse without it), prevent turmoil in neighboring countries from spilling into yours, its existence is a deterrent to foreign attacks of your territory (Japan made the mistake with Pearl Harbor and look what happened) and, of course, pride. The last one is the reason for things like military parades and shows. For parents, it isn’t the same for your kids to join the army of a country constantly at war with someone vs one that never initiates wars with others. With the second one, the chances your kid will be sent to put their life in danger are slim.
The UK, South Korea, Israel are a few that are much smaller than Brazil and are more powerful.
Mexico actually has more people than Brazil and it isn’t in the top 25 of the world’s most powerful.
Russia is much bigger than Brazil but has considerably less people and it ranks as the 2nd most powerful in the world.
Also, the military isn’t only for defense. During natural disasters it can be of much help in the aftermath, protecting from drug trafficking and contraband (would be worse without it), prevent turmoil in neighboring countries from spilling into yours, its existence is a deterrent to foreign attacks of your territory (Japan made the mistake with Pearl Harbor and look what happened) and, of course, pride. The last one is the reason for things like military parades and shows. For parents, it isn’t the same for your kids to join the army of a country constantly at war with someone vs one that never initiates wars with others. With the second one, the chances your kid will be sent to put their life in danger are slim.
Brazil has 203 millions people and Mexico 129 millions.
Israel and South Korea live under constant threat of war with their neighbors. It's normal for them to invest so much in their armed forces.
The UK has a recent warmongering past as a colonial power and in European wars. Russia is the heir to the weapons developed by the USSR in the arms race with the USA, but we know that today they are spending 40% of their GDP to maintain the war in Ukraine, that is, military expenditure much greater than their capacity.
As you say, armed forces have many other functions and Brazil has large armed forces, not to be an aggressor country, (Brazil has never started any war against its smaller neighbors) but to cope with the size of the country and population.
So it's not absurd to be the 12th or 13th largest military force in the world, being one of the 10 largest economies, population and territories in the world. Military spending is only 1,47% of the GDP is under cappacity of to the size of the country's economy and the majority of purchases are made from the national defense industry, not draining resources and jobs abroad.
Israel and South Korea live under constant threat of war with their neighbors. It's normal for them to invest so much in their armed forces.
But their neighbors aren’t among the world’s most powerful countries.
Quote:
Originally Posted by EVANGELISTTI
The UK has a recent warmongering past as a colonial power and in European wars.
So does Spain, France, Portugal; yet, they aren’t as powerful as Brazil.
Quote:
Originally Posted by EVANGELISTTI
Russia is the heir to the weapons developed by the USSR in the arms race with the USA, but we know that today they are spending 40% of their GDP to maintain the war in Ukraine, that is, military expenditure much greater than their capacity.
All weapons from the USSR era are outdated and wouldn’t be enough to maintain the position as the world’s second most powerful country. The USA also spent about 40% of its GDP during WWII. That didn’t impacted them in maintaining the position as the world’s most powerful country.
Quote:
Originally Posted by EVANGELISTTI
As you say, armed forces have many other functions and Brazil has large armed forces, not to be an aggressor country, (Brazil has never started any war against its smaller neighbors) but to cope with the size of the country and population.
Hmm, Paraguay might have something to say about that. Uruguay might also have something to say.
Quote:
Originally Posted by EVANGELISTTI
So it's not absurd to be the 12th or 13th largest military force in the world, being one of the 10 largest economies, population and territories in the world. Military spending is only 1,47% of the GDP is under cappacity of to the size of the country's economy and the majority of purchases are made from the national defense industry, not draining resources and jobs abroad.
Canada has never been a colonial power, has a much larger land area but a considerably less population than Brazil, it truly has never been an aggressor country on its neighbor; yet, it’s one of the most powerful countries in the world. The same could be said (minus the size of the territory) regarding Egypt, Australia, Ukraine, etc.
Brazil has the fifth largest territory in the world, the seventh largest population in the world and is the eighth largest economy in the world.
There is no great need for investment in defense because we have a peaceful neighborhood on our continent.
Border crossing between Brazil and Paraguay is very easy and simple, just walk across the bridge show ID and you are in Paraguay. Compare crossing S Korea to N Korea, that is another beast, another dimension.
I agree with your statement of having a peaceful neighborhood on our continent.
Now, seriously, Brazil has no bright future ahead unless it starts to invest seriously in public education. Our public education system is a shame.
The current minister of Education has some good plans, since he was governor of the state where I live, the state of Ceará, a relativelly poor state that is the undisputable leader in public education in Brazil in the past 15 years. If he is able to implement the public education model that was implemented in the state of Ceará in the past 15 years in a nationwide scale, maybe, just maybe, Brazil may have a bright future in the 2040's.
There is no miracle. Education is a long term investment.
Hmm, Paraguay might have something to say about that. Uruguay might also have something to say.
Brazil was invaded and had lands in the south and the state of Mato Grosso annexed by Paraguay and had the governor of the state of Mato Grosso kidnapped first, by Solano Lopez's troops only then reacted. Okay, Brazil didn't need to have decimated the male population of Paraguay, but it was Solano Lopez who made them fight to the last man until the Brazilian army captured and killed him hidden in the middle of the pond.
As for Uruguay, it was taken by the Portuguese crown from the Spanish crown, although the king of Portugal was reigning since Rio de Janeiro was a Portuguese administration, not an independent Brazilian one.
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