Leon E. Panetta, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil , Wednesday, April 25, 2012








It is a great privilege to be here in Rio de Janeiro during my first visit to Brazil, and my first trip to South America as the United States Secretary of Defense.

This city is known across the world for its beaches, its natural beauty, and its vibrant culture. I come from a coastal city in California with a Latin heritage. And as an Italian, I feel a very strong connection to this place and its people.

It is especially gratifying to be here at the Escola Superior de Guerra. I am proud of the support that the United States offered in helping to establish this school in 1949, and I am proud of the connections that have been built between this institution and the United States Department of Defense. I know the National Defense University in Washington is very much looking forward to hosting General Cherem next month, and to further enhancing our growing cooperation on professional military education.

This visit to Brazil is very meaningful to me because, like so many in the United States, I have long felt a special kinship for Brazil. It is a kinship borne out of the common values we share as two nations enriched by abundant natural resources, made strong by vibrant democratic institutions, and guided by a shared dream to forge a better world for our children.

Our nations have also been shaped by the common experiences of our diverse people – from our ancient indigenous cultures to the legacy of African slavery and European immigration.

My own story is in many ways the story of the United States of America, and in many ways it is the story of Brazil as well.

I am the son of Italian immigrants who left Italy in the 1930s to make a new life for themselves in the United States. Growing up, I would ask my father, "why would you travel those thousands of miles to a strange country?" They came from a poor area of Italy but they at least had the comfort of family. I'd ask him "Why would you pick up, leave your family and travel all that distance? " And I will never forget his response. He said, "because your mother and I believed that we could give our children a better life."

That conviction motivated millions of others to uproot their lives and set out for the New World. Millions came to the United States, and millions came to Brazil. Their story should remind us all how much the United States and Brazil share in common experiences and common interests – including our common interest in advancing peace and security in the 21st century.

This shared interest in peace and security is the foundation of the strong and vibrant partnership that the United States and Brazil are building together – a partnership whose goal is as simple as the immigrant dream of my parents: to give our children a better life.

Today I'd like to address the U.S.-Brazil defense relationship, because I believe we are at a critical point in the history of our two nations. We have before us a truly historic opportunity to build a closer defense partnership. A strategic partnership based on mutual interest and mutual respect. A partnership premised on our conviction that a strong and prosperous Brazil that takes its rightful place as a global leader will be a force for peace and a model for other nations in the 21st century.

This opportunity comes as the United States finds itself at a turning point after a decade of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and against al-Qaeda and its militant allies. We have scored significant gains against al Qaeda, weakening its leadership and its ability to carry out attacks. We have brought the war in Iraq to a responsible conclusion. In Afghanistan, we have begun a transition to Afghan security responsibility and, despite challenges, our strategy is succeeding. The goal of a secure and sovereign Afghanistan that is not a safe haven for terrorists is within sight.

These transitions have allowed the United States to focus new energy on emerging opportunities and challenges across the globe – including here in the Western Hemisphere.

The international security challenges that confront us include transnational threats like violent extremism, the destabilizing behavior of nations like Iran and North Korea, military modernization across Asia-Pacific and turmoil across the Middle East and North Africa. At the same time, we are dealing with the changing nature of warfare, the proliferation of lethal weapons and materials, and the growing threat of cyber intrusion. And here in this hemisphere, we face illicit trafficking and natural disasters.

These challenges affect us all – our people, our economies and our future way of life. And the world is so deeply interconnected that they are truly beyond the ability of any one nation to resolve alone.

In the United States, we have put forward a new defense strategy that aims to meet these challenges, in large measure, by reinvigorating our defense and security partnerships across the globe.

Let me describe the key elements of this new strategy:

First, the U.S. military will become smaller and leaner as we draw down from the two wars, but its great strength will be that it is agile, flexible, rapidly deployable and technologically advanced.

Second, we will rebalance our global posture to emphasize Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, in recognition of the many challenges and opportunities in these regions.

Third, we will seek to reinvigorate our security relationships throughout the world by building innovative defense partnerships – particularly in Europe, Africa and here in the Western Hemisphere.

Fourth, we'll ensure that the United States military remains capable of confronting aggression and defeating any opponent anytime, anywhere.

Lastly, we'll prioritize and protect investments in new technologies such as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, space, cyberspace, special operations and the capacity to quickly mobilize.

This new strategy recognizes that the United States remains a global power, but that more and more nations are making important contributions to global security. We welcome and encourage this new reality, because it makes the world safer and all of our nations stronger.

It is with this strategic outlook, and this belief in the possibilities of new partnership, that I have come to Brazil. Yesterday in Brasilia, Minister Amorim and I began a new dialogue directed by President Obama and President Rousseff when they met earlier this month in Washington.

This Defense Cooperation Dialogue has the potential to help transform U.S.-Brazil defense cooperation, because it provides a way for our two defense establishments to focus on areas where there is unfulfilled potential for our two countries to do much more together.

With Brazil taking its rightful place as a global leader, we recognize that the nature of our relationship in 2012 is and should be fundamentally different from what it was in 1824, when the United States was the first country to recognize an independent Brazil, or 1942, when Brazil made the decision to enter World War II alongside the United States and later became the only South American nation to send troops into battle during that war.

This is a relationship between two global powers, and we welcome Brazil's growing strength. We support Brazil as a global leader, and seek closer defense cooperation, because we believe that a stronger and more globally engaged Brazil will help enhance international security. With our deepening partnership, Brazil's strength is more than ever our strength.

We have already glimpsed some of the benefits in recent years as our defense relationship has moved steadily towards closer cooperation. Let me give you a few examples.

In the aftermath of the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti, thousands of U.S. and Brazilian military personnel worked side-by-side to provide emergency relief to the Haitian people. It was our countries' largest combined military operation since World War II.

Only a few months after the earthquake in Haiti, the United States and Brazil signed two important agreements to facilitate defense cooperation and the sharing of sensitive military information.

Our two militaries also have greatly expanded joint training and exercises. The United States military has been receiving more requests to participate in Brazilian-hosted military exercises and attend Brazilian military schools. For example, U.S. military personnel are once again training at the Brazilian Army's Instruction Center for Jungle Warfare. Our naval personnel are exercising together regularly, both near and far – from the shores of Rio de Janeiro to the Gulf of Guinea off the coast of Africa. And two years ago, the U.S. Air Force participated for the first time in the Brazilian Air Force's CRUZEX multinational air exercise. The U.S. Air Force looks forward to having Brazil participate in its RED FLAG exercise next year.

These are just a few examples of how much our cooperation has increased, made our militaries stronger and advanced regional and global security. I believe our defense relationship is now as strong as it has been at any point since World War II.

Still, I think we can all agree that there is much more we can do together, and that it is in all of our interests to pursue a shared vision of deeper defense cooperation that advances peace and security in the 21st century.

The dialogue Minister Amorim and I began yesterday, I believe, will lay the groundwork to deepen cooperation across a whole range of areas.

For example, both Brazil and the United States have outstanding, world-class scientific and research communities that would benefit from increased sharing of information and joint research in areas of defense. In the spirit of President Rousseff's "Science Without Borders" initiative, I would like to find a way for our defense institutions to improve cooperation on research through exchange programs between our scientific establishments and joint research projects.

Along those lines, I believe that cybersecurity holds great promise for increased cooperation. Cyber is in many ways the battlefield of the future. Both our nations have critical infrastructure that is targeted every day for intrusion and potential attack. For that reason, I believe both of our nations must leverage our extensive technical expertise and exchange more information on cyber policies, training and best practices.

Exchanges best practices on defense support for civil authorities could also be helpful as Brazil prepares to host the World Cup in 2014 and the Summer Olympics in 2016. I know the Brazilian people are very proud that their country will be hosting these important events, and I congratulate you on this achievement. The United States stands ready to share our own experiences and lessons learned in providing security for events of such global prominence.

Looking not only off the field but beyond our borders, there are even more opportunities to heighten defense collaboration and cooperation in areas of shared interest. For example, both of our nations have historic connections to Africa and have a strategic interest in stability on the continent. We should explore ways for our two militaries to work together to assist African militaries, such as by conducting combined exercises and other forms of training.

Another international challenge is the threat of natural disasters, and here the United States and Brazil could more closely cooperate to better respond when other countries – particularly in this hemisphere – call for international assistance in response to a major disaster.

As two economic powerhouses in the hemisphere, our two nations have built a flourishing trade relationship that includes extensive trade in the defense arena. But this too is an area ripe for growth. In particular, the United States seeks to increase high-tech defense trade, flowing in both directions between our two countries.

I know that United States export controls may have created an impression that we are trying to limit this trade, but let me assure you that the United States strongly supports the sharing of advanced technologies with Brazil. In fact, the U.S. government approves thousands of license requests each year involving the export of significant technology to Brazil – ranging from weapons and aircraft to integrated combat systems for Navy ships and submarines.

Denials of export licenses involving Brazil are very rare – averaging from zero to four cases per year, compared to thousands of approvals. This is on par with the U.S. Government's license approval rate for its Treaty Allies and closest partners.

Perhaps the most prominent example of our willingness to partner with Brazil on advanced defense technology is the United States government's offer to provide our Super Hornet fighter aircraft to the Brazilian Air Force. This offer, which has the strong support of the United States Congress, contains an unprecedented advanced technology sharing that is reserved for only our closest allies and partners.

But this offer is about much more than providing Brazil with the best fighter available. With the Super Hornet, Brazil's defense and aviation industries would be able to transform their partnerships with U.S. companies, and they would have the best opportunity to plug into worldwide markets.

We fully understand that Brazil is not looking just to be the purchaser of a fighter aircraft, but rather a full-fledged partner in the development of cutting-edge aviation technology. We share that goal, and I am hopeful that the Brazilian government will ultimately choose to purchase the Super Hornet for its Air Force's next generation fighter.

We have put forward a very strong offer. It is an offer that reflects how important this partnership is to the United States.

From deepening scientific exchanges and defense trade to developing a common approach to meeting international security challenges in this Hemisphere and beyond, I will come away from my visit to Brazil deeply optimistic in the future of this defense relationship, and looking forward to hosting Minister Amorim at the next dialogue in Washington.

We won't agree on every matter – no two countries, not even the closest allies, ever do. But I do believe that our common interests are so great, and the possibilities that come from our cooperation are so tangible, that we must seize this opportunity to build a stronger defense partnership for the future.

Let me close by telling you about U.S. Army Sergeant Felipe Pereira, a 28-year old Brazilian who moved to America at the age of 17 to learn English at a Nebraska college and now serves as a squad leader in the storied 101st Airborne Division.

Sergeant Pereira earlier this month was awarded one of our military's highest decorations, the Distinguished Service Cross, for extraordinary valor on the battlefield in Kandahar, Afghanistan. In the aftermath of a roadside bomb detonation that killed two of his teammates, Sergeant Pereira drove into enemy fire to evacuate wounded soldiers even though he was wounded himself.

His actions saved the lives of at least two others, and they reflect extraordinary bravery and courage. They are a tribute to him, they are a tribute to his Brazilian heritage, and they are a tribute to the close ties of family and affection that bind our two great nations together.

May his example guide all of us to fight together for a better life for our children, and for a peaceful and more secure world for both our nations in the 21st century.

Thank you.