MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina and Brazil closer in defence issues and in support of Malvinas claim

Amorim and Puricelli also agreed to collaborate in the manufacturing of UAS

Argentina and Brazil agreed to work on a common defence agenda underlining the importance of strengthening Unasur and working to ensure that Latin America is a peace zone thus sending a strong message to the UK on the Falklands/Malvinas issue.

Visiting Defence Minister Arturo Puricelli met on Tuesday with his counterpart Celso Amorim at Brazil Defence ministry and recalled the long historic support from Brazil to Argentina’s legitimate claim over the Falklands/Malvinas sovereignty claim and demanded that the UK finally seats to talk about the disputed South Atlantic Islands.

“The relation with Argentina is the most strategic of all our relations” pointed out Minister Amorim. “A strategic alliance based on common shared history sealed in its moment by the initiative from former president Nestor Kirchner to create Unasur”.

Puricelli and Amorim said the two countries hold a common stance ahead of the coming Ministers of Defence of the Americas conference which means “cooperation with North America, but above all integration of South America is far more important”.

Next September 18/19 the Peace and Cooperation Zone in the South Atlantic, (Zopacas) will be meeting in Montevideo to address many of these defence issues including the protection of natural resources and preservation of the common heritage.

Amorim thanked his counterpart for Argentine support following the recent fire which destroyed Brazil’s main Antarctic station Comandante Ferraz. Puricelli again offered all the possible help and support from the Argentine bases.

The two ministers also agreed to cooperate in the construction of unmanned aircraft to help with border surveillance and fighting the drugs trade.

The construction of these Unmanned Aircraft Systems with Israeli technology (Elbit) would be for domestic use and exporting to South American countries. Brazil has already displayed some advanced prototypes along the border with Paraguay and Bolivia to counter drugs and arms smuggling.

Puricelli requested Brazil to speed the delivery of armoured vehicles for troop transport named Guaraní, and which Argentina needs in support of UN peace keeping missions

Another Argentine request according to the Brazilian government news agency was interest in the air-to-air missile A-Darter, under joint development between Brazil and South Africa.

Likewise Argentina would like support from Brazil to upgrade its Exocet MM-38 and MM-40 missiles- “We’ve already advanced in this area, but we know Brazil is also working on the issue so we want to share it”.

Argentina is already collaborating with Brazil in the development of the KC-390 an air supply vessel which can also be used to fuel other aircraft in the air.

Following the meeting Puricelli left for Sao Paulo to visit the Technological Airspace Centre is San Jose Dos Campos, and Brazil’s aircraft manufacturing complex, Embraer, plus the Aeronautic Technology institute, ITA.