U.S. Navy Admiral Craig S. Faller, commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), visited Brazil’s Peace Operations Joint Training Center (CCOPAB, in Portuguese), in Rio de Janeiro, on September 23, 2021, accompanied by U.S. Consul General in Brazil Jacqueline Ward, as well as other civilian and military authorities.
The objective of the visit was to discuss cooperation and bilateral partnerships in the areas of defense and security between the two nations. This was the officer’s last international trip before leaving the SOUTHCOM commander post.
Preparing for peacekeeping missions
CCOPAB commander, Brazilian Army (EB, in Portuguese) Colonel Márcio Carneiro Barbosa, introduced the center to Adm. Faller by delivering a lecture in which he talked about Brazil’s participation in some United Nations (U.N.) and Organization of American States (OAS) peacekeeping and humanitarian demining operations, in addition to instructional activities conducted by the institution.
“Human resources are the main part of any activity. When deployed in the field, they are subjected to certain situations that require prior preparation; here we prepare people for different kinds of field activities in a peacekeeping mission,” Col. Barbosa said.
The SOUTHCOM commander praised CCOPAB’s work, emphasizing that the institution could become a central training point for both countries.
Visitors were invited to participate in the military ceremony in honor of fallen Brazilians in U.N. and OAS peacekeeping missions, especially those who lost their lives during the January 12, 2010 earthquake in Haiti.
About the CCOPAB
CCOPAB is a military organization directly linked to the Ministry of Defense, but under the EB.
CCOPAB’s priority mission is to support the preparation of Brazilian service members, police, and civilians, and of friendly nations for peacekeeping and humanitarian demining missions, thereby seeking to be an international benchmark in this sector.
