In late May, U.S. Army General Laura J. Richardson, commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), visited Brazil to meet with Brazilian authorities and celebrate the bicentennial of U.S.-Brazil diplomatic relations, commemorated amid Exercise Southern Seas 2024 in Brazilian waters. Gen. Richardson hailed the enduring legacy of the U.S.-Brazil partnership, reaffirming the commitment of both “like-minded democracies” to strengthening cooperation.
Brazilian Army General Guido Amin Naves, commander of the Southeast Military Command, welcomed Gen. Richardson to São Paulo, reiterating the strong and historic ties between the U.S. and the Brazilian Armed Forces.
In São Paulo, Gen. Richardson also met with Brazilian military and industrial leaders at Boeing Brasil for a Women, Peace, and Security panel discussion on the integration of women in peacekeeping, defense, and security missions and emphasize the importance of inclusion and diversity in global security. Also in São Paulo, Gen. Richardson visited Embraer headquarters, more particularly the E-jets assembly line and “discussed future partnerships in the aerospace and defense sector,” aviation news site Aeroin reported.
In Rio de Janeiro, As part of her four-day visit, Gen. Richardson, along with U.S. Ambassador to Brazil Elizabeth Frawley, joined Brazilian government officials and military leaders aboard the USS George Washington (CVN 73) for a formal reception and celebration. The aircraft carrier is deployed as part of Southern Seas, which seeks to enhance interoperability and strengthen maritime partnerships. The naval exercise not only serves as a testament to the longstanding partnership between the United and Brazil, but also reflects the ongoing commitment of the United States and partner nations to working together for collective peace, security, and regional development, the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia said in a statement.
Gen. Richardson also expressed her condolences to Brazilians affected by the recent floods in Rio Grande do Sul and praised the efforts of the Brazilian Armed Forces to alleviate the suffering of the affected population.
Prior to continuing toward Argentina for Southern Seas, the USS George Washington joined forces with the Brazilian Navy’s (MB) multipurpose aircraft carrier NAM Atlântico to help transport 15 tons of food and other supplies to flood victims. “The Brazilian Navy and the Brazilian people are grateful for the support, which reinforces the century-old partnership between the countries,” MB said via X.
“Two great friends, one bright future. That’s what 200 years of friendship means. It means that we are at Brazil’s side yesterday, today, and tomorrow. We look forward to centuries of partnership ahead,” Ambassador Bagley said in an article in the newsletter of the Washington Brazil Office, an independent democracy advocacy institution.
The U.S.-Brazil’s longstanding friendship has been marked by strong political, economic, defense, and cultural ties, as well as shared common values and interests. In 1824, the United States recognized Brazil’s independence and established diplomatic relations. Two hundred years later, Brazil and the United States, two of the largest democracies in the Americas, remain key partners, dedicated to building a brighter and more secure future for the region.
“As democracies, we respect each other. We respect each other’s sovereignty. We respect each other’s people,” Gen. Richardson said in an interview with Brazilian daily Valor Econômico, urging “like-minded democracies” to unite and “work better together” to confront common threats to peace and security.
