US and Chinese troops to take part in Brazil-hosted exercises

Photo: Operation Formosa drills. 2022. REUTERS/Adriano Machado

Chinese troops will take part in the annual military drills held in Brazil with the participation of US troops for the first time, the Brazilian Navy command said on Tuesday, September 10, Reuters reports.

However, Pentagon spokesman Major Pete Nguyen said that the US and Chinese militaries would not conduct joint training as part of the Operation Formosa drills. in Brazil.

“While Chinese troops are also present at the exercises, the U.S. military does not train with Chinese forces,” Nguyen said.

Last year, China sent observers to the Operation Formosa exercises, but this year's drills will involve Chinese forces for the first time, the Brazilian navy said in a statement. The U.S. military already participated in the 2023 exercise.

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“Operation Formosa 2024 will be the first exercise to involve friendly forces,” the Brazilian navy said in a statement about the presence of the two superpowers at this year's drills. The statement did not specify how many U.S. and Chinese forces would participate in the exercises.

The Brazilian armed forces will deploy 3,000 troops to take part in three-day exercises that begin on Wednesday. They will train with aircraft, tanks, armored and amphibious vehicles, artillery, missiles and rocket launchers, the Navy said.

The live-fire exercises will take place near the city of Formosa, 80 kilometers northeast of Brazil's capital, Brasilia.

The troops invited to the exercises are participating in workshops to share experiences, the Navy said, and observers from eight countries, including Argentina, France, Italy, Pakistan and South Africa, will also be present.

A Pentagon spokesman said the Marines will only train with Brazilian troops.

“By working side by side with our Brazilian counterparts, we are strengthening our collective ability to respond to regional security challenges,” — he said.

Prepared by: Sergey Daga