To provide training opportunities to Western Hemisphere nations to work together and build on their capability to plan and conduct complex operations together is among the main objectives of exercise PANAMAX. For Brazilian Navy Commander Bruno Luis Ferreira Pimentel, proper planning, preparation, and repeat training prior to confronting any real-life crisis is key to interoperational success. Diálogo had the opportunity to speak with Cmdr. Bruno Luis during his participation in PANAMAX 24 in mid-August, in Fort Sam Houston, Texas, where he stressed the importance of strengthening ties of friendship to counter common regional threats.
Diálogo: How important is Exercise PANAMAX for Brazil and the region?
Brazilian Navy Commander Bruno Luis Ferreira Pimentel: In addition to the planning phase, all the effort that goes into planning, the execution itself is very important because of the exchange of experiences, the difficulties that were presented during the exercise and, above all, being able to study the region and have this networking.
I think it’s a great professional opportunity for everyone who takes part. To be able to look into the planning, to have a better understanding of the region as a whole and have this exchange of experiences before a crisis. Today, on our continent, we do not face a major crisis, but we must have this exchange of experience, this knowledge before a crisis. So, in this respect the exercise is very important to strengthen ties with our partners in Brazil, partners in the United States, before a crisis so that if one day there is a crisis on the continent, we already have these ties established and know the right people.
Diálogo: What are the main threats to the Panama Canal that PANAMAX prepares participants for?
Cmdr. Bruno Luis: The exercise presents an extremely violent organization, which is the BML, a fictitious organization that seeks to delegitimize other state actors, as well as the Panamanian government itself. This organization has the support of other malign actors mentioned in the exercise, so it has logistical, financial, and training support. In other words, it’s a very well conducted exercise to strengthen ties among partner nations that are opposed to this criminal organization, which acts unconventionally.
Diálogo: What were some of Brazil’s contributions to this edition of PANAMAX?
Cmdr. Bruno Luis: Brazil has been involved in all the phases of the exercise since the planning. Above all, Brazil’s biggest participation has been in the maritime component. We have a Brazilian general officer as the commander of the Combined Force Maritime Component Command (CFMCC). So, the entire maritime control of the Joint Operations Area was exercised by a Brazilian general officer [Brazilian Navy Rear Admiral Jorge Jose De Moraes Rulff] who oversaw this coalition of naval, amphibious, and aerial assets. So, it is my belief that Brazil’s greatest participation was with the maritime component and of course in strengthening ties with partner nations.
Diálogo: What experience are you taking back with you?
Cmdr. Bruno Luis: I would say that I am taking away a great professional experience. It’s a great professional gain. It was an opportunity to work with military partners from the United States as a host nation and various other partners from Latin America, with representatives here [in Fort Sam Houston] from Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru… all of Brazil’s neighbors, and being able to work with these military partners was very enriching. Professionally speaking and personally, it’s a great opportunity, and it’s also a personal gain that we take back to Brazil as far as multinational exercises.
