The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Maritime Task Force (MTF) is now under the command of Rear Admiral Joése de Andrade Bandeira Leandro. The transfer of command occurred on February 19, at a pier on the Port of Beirut. This is the third consecutive time that a Brazilian Navy official assumes the position of commander for the MTF.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Maritime Task Force (MTF) is now under the command of Rear Admiral Joése de Andrade Bandeira Leandro. The transfer of command occurred on February 19, at a pier on the Port of Beirut. This is the third consecutive time that a Brazilian Navy official assumes the position of commander for the MTF.
The new chief was replacing Rear Admiral Wagner Lopes de Moraes Zamith, who had been leading the mission since February 2012.
The ceremony took place next to the frigate “Constituição” – the Task Force’s flagship. In January of this year, the vessel became the maritime asset under the Brazilian military personnel’s command during the operation.
The UNIFIL is one of the United Nations’ (UN) nine international missions with Brazilian participation. The crew is comprised of 268 troops all from the Brazilian Navy. The country has an operation in the contingent since November 2011. Such operations are part of the strategic objectives of the national defense, which outlines working in peacekeeping and humanitarian aid missions.
UNIFIL was created in 1978, and it currently has approximately 13,500 people, among them military and civilians from over 30 countries. The MTF-UNIFIL, established by the UN in 2006, is the first Maritime Task Force created to integrate peacekeeping missions for the international agency.
Brazil taking position on international arena. The world pays now more attention to Brazilian President Dilma Roussef and, for her part, she makes her voice heard around the globe as never before.