Ambassadors Roundtable
July 29, 2008
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Summary
As part of the Ambassador Roundtable Series on International Collaboration to Combat Terrorism and Insurgencies, The Homeland Security Policy Institute hosted Ambassador Antonio Patriota of Brazil on July 29, 2008.
Independent since 1822, Brazil has a rich cultural history and is emerging as a premier economic and political leader in Latin America. Ambassador Patriota drew on the lessons learned from Brazil’s experiences with both revolution and reconciliation to outline a Brazilian approach to combating terrorism and insurgency, which centers on prevention at a local, regional, and global level. Brazil’s 1988 Constitution calls for the government to guide its international relations according to principles such as respecting human rights, non-intervention, upholding peaceful solutions to conflicts, and for the elimination of terrorism.
Ambassador Patriota noted that “Brazil’s society has rejected terrorism,” and attempted to address grievances that might cause it. As a multi-ethnic society it has experienced struggles, such as the consequences of a long history of Afro-Brazilian slavery, and the large economic inequalities within its population; yet Brazil is known as a country with relative multi-ethnic harmony. More recent immigration from the Middle East—Brazil now has the largest Arab population inside of Latin America—brings new challenges. Terrorist attacks in the neighboring country of Argentina on the Israeli embassy in 1992 and on a Jewish community center in 1994 highlighted the threat of terrorism within the region, and the need to seriously consider its ramifications globally.
Additionally, organized crime in the region is causing the cities of Brazil to suffer from heightened levels of crime and violence. This has led Brazil to reach out to its neighbors in a regional approach to mitigate the threats presented by such groups, particularly in two tri-border areas. The tri-border area of Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay faces problems with small arms smuggling, while the intersecting borders of Brazil, Peru, and Colombia face narcotics and weapons trafficking. Ambassador Patriota stressed that “[ Brazil] cannot only act nationally; we need to act regionally.”
The existence of a “nexus” between drug trafficking and terrorism has been debated in Brazil, and underscores the global reach of the country’s national and regional concerns. The ambassador emphasized that suspected financial links between terrorism and organized crime in Brazil are “not easy to substantiate.” For example, Hezbollah is acting as a charity in the region but the Ambassador noted that it has not been demonstrated that any financing from the group has related directly to violence, militant activity, or terrorism.
The Ambassador also raised the challenging matter of creating countermeasures tailored towards terrorist groups, organized crime, and other types of militant groups, respectively. The approach in each case depends in part on whether the motive of the group is financial or political in nature. Furthermore, labeling militant groups as terrorist in nature could prevent national reconciliation. In response to a question by HSPI Director Frank Cilluffo regarding “lessons gleaned” from experience countering the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the Ambassador noted that Brazil advocates giving groups such as the FARC a chance to renounce violence, disarm, and experience political integration.
In response to threats arising at the end of the 1990s, the “3 + 1” initiative, which counts Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and the US as its members, was created to investigate possible links between crime and terrorism, and to share information. Given new life after the September 11th attacks in the United States, the initiative has been an excellent information sharing mechanism to mitigate current threats. Another formal group was proposed in May 2008. The South American Defense Council will act as a forum for defense cooperation in South America, to include the commitment of all member states to “watch for irregular groups” and to work together as a region to fight transnational challenges like illicit activity and terrorism.
Brazil is expected to continue rising as an economic and political regional power, and on a global scale, the country has worked closely with the United Nations. Notably its current seat on the UN Security Council (UNSC) has placed the country in a position to encourage additional countries to collaborate with the UNSC Counter Terrorism Committee.
Resources
As part of the July 29th, 2008 Roundtable with Ambassador Antonio Patriota, the Homeland Security Policy Institute prepared a resource page where you will find some useful links to recent reports, government agencies and other relevant information.
Reports & Remarks:
“Security and the Other Tri Border,” ISN Security Watch (July 24, 2008)
The US' preoccupation with terrorism, combined with a large Lebanese community in Ciudad de Este, Paraguay, located in the in the eastern part of the country, has forced a high level of international scrutiny on the tri-border region between Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. This has turned many eyes away from other areas in South America that, some argue, should receive just as much if not more attention. The tri-border area between Colombia, Brazil and Peru is one such region.
“Remarks With Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim,” Condoleeza Rice, U.S. Secretary of State (March 13, 2008).
Primarily a question and answer session, these remarks discuss efforts of the U.S. to cooperate with Brazil on counterterrorism and counternarcotics issues in the region.
"Ethanol and Other Biofuels: Potential for U.S.-Brazilian Energy Cooperation," Congressional Research Service (September 27, 2007)
This report discusses the opportunities and barriers related to increasing U.S. cooperation with other countries in the hemisphere on biofuels development, focusing on the U.S.-Brazil agreement.
"Reflections on the U.S.-Brazil Relationship and Foreign Policy Challenges and Opportunities in Latin America," R. Nicholas Burns, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (August 3, 2007)
A speech followed by a question and answer session, these remarks focus on reiterating the deep strategic partnership between the U.S. and Brazil, and how that partnership strengthens the U.S. presence in the Western hemisphere.
"Brazil May Become the Saudi Arabia of Ethanol. Or the Iraq," Revista Bovespa and www.Brazzil.com ( May 22, 2008)
This article is a broad interview with Dr. Lewis Perelman, a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Regulatory Science in Washington, D.C. Discussing sustainability, Perelman argues that true sustainability requires a prudent mix of both green and blue goals—not only protection against long-range threats but also preparedness, agility, flexibility, and the capacity do adapt quickly to new circumstances. In one word, “resilience,” to incorporate the requirements of security and survivability.
“Brazil-U.S. Relations," Congressional Research Service (February 28, 2007)
In recent years, congressional interest in Brazil has focused on the U.S.-Brazilian bilateral trade relationship, as well as Brazil’s role in sub-regional, regional, and global trade talks in the Doha round of the World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations. In December 2006, Congress extended trade preferences for Brazil under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), but set thresholds that may limit trade preferences for some Brazilian exports compared to previous years. Interest in Brazil also centers on its role as a stabilizing force in Latin America, especially with respect to Venezuela and Bolivia. Brazil’s role as an ethanol producer has generated growing interest in Congress. In addition, Brazil is a key U.S. ally whose cooperation is sought on issues that include counternarcotics and counterterrorism efforts; human rights concerns, such as race relations and trafficking in persons; the environment, including protection of the Amazon; and HIV/AIDS prevention.
"Brazilian National Defense Policy," Ministry of Defense, Republic of Brazil (2005)
This is a strategic level document, translated and made available by National Defense University.
"Brazil’s Contingency Plan to Confront an Influenza Pandemic," Health Ministry, Republic of Brazil (2005).
"The present Contingence Plan approaches the fundamental issues of national pertinence regarding the preparation and the response to a influenza pandemic outbreak. And based on the actual recommendations of the WHO and it has as main objectives to delineate the actions and activities needed to retard the introduction of the pandemic block in the country, minimizing the mortality impact resulting from the dissemination of an influenza pandemic outbreak and its repercussion on the basic health service functioning."
"Terrorist and Organized Crime Groups in the Tri Border Area (TBA) of South America," U.S. Library of Congress (July 2003)
This report assesses the activities of organized crime groups, terrorist groups, and narcotics traffickers in the Tri-Border Area (TBA) of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay, since 1999. Among the issues examined are the illicit activities of Islamic terrorist groups in the TBA.
News and Resource Links:
New York Times: Brazil
BBC Country Profile: Brazil
CIA World Factbook: Brazil
Library of Congress: Brazil
State Department: Brazil
Brazil Government:
Ministry of Defense (Portuguese)
Ambassador Antonio Patriota
Ambassador Patriota was born in Rio de Janeiro on April 27, 1954. After having earned a diploma in Philosophy from the University of Geneva, he went on to graduate in 1979 from Brazil’s diplomatic academy, the Rio Branco Institute. At the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Relations, in Brasília, he worked as an Advisor to the Head of the United Nations Division, 1980-1982, as an Advisor to the Secretary General for Political Affairs, 1990-1992, and as the Deputy Diplomatic Advisor to the President of Brazil, 1992-1994. Overseas, he served as a member of Brazil’s Permanent Mission to the International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, 1983-1986, as Political Counselor at the Brazilian Embassy in Beijing 1987-1988, as Head of the Economic Section of the Brazilian Embassy in Caracas, 1988-1990, and as a Political Counselor at Brazil’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, in New York, 1994-1999, where he was a member of Brazil’s Delegation to the U.N. Security Council in 1995 and 1998-1999. He served as Minister Counselor at Brazil’s Permanent Mission to the International Organizations in Geneva, 1999-2003, where during the last two years, 2001-2002, he was Brazil’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization. Upon his return to Brasília, he served as Secretary for Diplomatic Planning in the Office of the Minister of Foreign Relations. He was promoted to the rank of Ambassador in December 2003 and served as Chief of Staff to the Minister of Foreign Relations, Ambassador Celso Amorim, from May 2004 through May 2005. Prior to his selection as Brazilian Ambassador to the United States, he served as Under Secretary General for Political Affairs, at the Ministry of Foreign Relations. His thesis for the Advanced Studies Course at the Rio Branco Institute was published in 1998 by the Alexandre de Gusmão Foundation (FUNAG) with the title “The Security Council After the Gulf War: articulating a new paradigm for collective security.” Ambassador Patriota is married to Tania Cooper Patriota and they have two sons, Miguel and Thomas. He has received several decorations from the governments of Brazil, France, Norway and Morocco.
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The Ambassadors Roundtable Series is designed to provide Ambassadors to the United States and their key diplomatic staff with a forum to discuss current and future counterterrorism and counterinsurgency efforts on a regional or country-specific basis. In an effort to draw upon various insights and experiences, the Ambassadors Roundtable Series builds upon and institutionalizes efforts over the past two years to engage in a dialogue with members of the international community, policy makers, and practitioners.
