A guardiã do Solimões não dorme nem sente sono: a importância estratégica da 16ª Brigada De Infantaria de Selva (Brigada das Missões Tefé-Am) para a defesa nacional

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The Brazilian Amazon occupies 5.015.068,18 km2, equivalent to 58,9% of the Brazilian territory, out of a total of 8.509.379,576 km2 (IBGE, 2024). This region is characterized by natural resources and traditional populations and riverine communities. Its territory shares borders with South American countries. It is a sensitive area as it connects four countries, forming a four-country drug trafficking and river piracy occur along the rivers, and where gold mining takes place in Indigenous territories, highlighting a territory, at the same time, is both exuberant and dangerous. In Tefé, Amazonas, the 16th Jungle Infantry Brigade serves as an element of territorial control aiming to ensure and reinforce the State’s presence at the border to maintain Brazil’s territorial sovereignty. Addressing challenges and contributing to security and development in the Amazon region. The missions Brigade is military organization subordinate to the Amazon Military Command (CMA). This study aims to analyze the strategic importance of the 16th Jungle Infantry Brigade (known as the Missions Brigade, in Tefé, Amazonas) for Brazil’s National Defense. In summary, SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – was discussed. To guide the research, the main objective was to analyze the geostrategic relevance of the 16th Jungle Infantry Brigade within the context of National Defense. In terms of methodology, qualitative data were used, based on semi-structured interviews containing 14 open-ended questions for officers of the Military Police and the Brazilian Army, five multiple-choice questions for teachers of the state school teachers, twelve open-ended questions for Geography undergraduates from CEST–UEA, complemented by a literature review, documents and online sources, as well as field research. Enabling a better understanding of the role of the Missions Brigade in National Defense. Based on the data collected, the findings revealed that the Missions Brigade, in addition to ensuring National Defense through its constant presence and year round operations, also contributes to the local economy, social cohesion, and security by protecting traditional and riverside communities in the Amazon against illegal activities, attacks and invasions. The study also revealed that inhabitants of Tefé are not familiar with the main document that guides national defense actions in the country and are not involved in the formulation of the National Defense Policy (PND), which governs defense actions in Brazil. Another relevant point concerns the personnel strength of the military organizations, which requires greater attention to garrison, secure, and defend the territory of the Brazilian Amazon. In this regard, the Brazilian State plays an active role in terms of physical structures, military equipment, river transport, and infrastructure. It is pertinent to emphasize that studies on defense and security should be discussed with the participation of both the civilian and military society in order to develop policies for national defense and security, since it is the society that experiences daily the actions of criminal groups and traffickers. For this reason, such information must reach Brazilian society. Keywords: Territory; Geopolitics; Strategies; National Defense Policy; 16th Jungle Infantry Brigade.