Brazilian Armed Forces (Operation Foxley)

The Armed Forces of Brazil (FAB), consists of the Navy, the Army and the Air Force.

They are national, permanent and regular institutions whose constitutional mission is to ensure the defense of the country, the guarantee of constitutional powers and, on their own initiative, law and order. As Brazil adopts compulsory military service, its military force is one of the largest in the world, with an estimated effective force of over 1.6 millions military personnel in reservist ages per year.

In terms of staff, it has the second largest in the American continent and the largest in Latin America. The number of ready-to-fight soldiers in 2019 is 520,000, the 9th largest troop in the world. Without serious external or internal threats, the military is looking for a new role. They are expanding their presence in the Amazon through the Calha Norte program. In 1994, Brazilian troops joined United Nations (UN) peacekeeping forces in five countries. Brazilian soldiers were in Haiti from 2004 until 2017, leading the United Nations Stabilization Mission (MINUSTAH).

The Brazilian military, especially those of the Army, have become more involved in civic, educational, health, road, bridge and rail building actions or programs across the country. Although the New Constitution preserves the external and internal functions of the armed forces, it places the military under presidential authority. Thus it has changed the way the military can exercise its moderating power. In 2018, it was ranked 13th on the list of "greatest military might" in the world by the Global Firepower website.

To be continued...