In an international press conference, Defence Minister promises that the Rio 2016 Games will run safely and peacefully

Brazil is ready to provide a safe and peaceful environment as required by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The statement was made on Thursday (07/07) by Defence Minister Raul Jungmann during an international press conference.

The minister stressed the importance of the role played by the press to show the world the integrated security arrangements made by Brazil around three pillars of action: Defence, Public Security and Intelligence.

Minister Raul Jungmann talks to the international media and speaks about integrated security operations during the Olympics. Photo: Gilberto Alves/Ministry of Defence

According to the Minister, all plans have been fulfilled and all pillars of action are now duly staffed and equipped and ready for action, which is due to happen over the next few days as the Olympic and Paralympic Games draw closer. Minister Jungmann pointed out that despite the political and economic challenges, in addition to the predicaments in Rio de Janeiro, the Games will be an outright success. "Overcoming challenges is the name of these Olympic Games; in spite of all the difficulties, we will deliver great Games," he said.

Minister Jungmann also described the duties of the Ministry of Defence as per the important Strategic Plan for Integrated Security (PESI); approximately 41,000 military personnel will be deployed. Minister Jungmann also talked about the additional patrolling operations in some thoroughfares of Rio de Janeiro requested by the State Government. He also recalled that the armed forces will rely on backup military personnel that may also step in if necessary.

On tackling terrorism, the Minister stressed that, despite having no experience with this type of attack, Brazil is prepared to deal with any threats. "Brazil is a peaceful country, but not an unarmed country. It is not a country devoid of defence capabilities, and rest assured that we will strike back if necessary," he said.

As evidence of the intense synergy between the three pillars of security, and representing the intelligence sector, Minister of the Office of Institutional Security (GSI) of the Presidency of the Republic, General Sergio Etchegoyen, also attended the press conference.

According to General Etchegoyen, Brazil will have a national intelligence centre that will be based in Brasilia; there will be regional centres in each of the host cities staging football matches, and there will be two facilities in Rio de Janeiro: the Olympic Intelligence Centre and the Intelligence and Foreign Services Centre, which now relies on the collaboration of more than 116 countries.

Both ministers also informed that in early August they will be joining Minister of Justice and Citizenship Alexandre de Moraes to go to Rio de Janeiro in order to closely monitor the security actions, and they will take turns to ensure that at least one of them will be on site during the event. The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Admiral Ademir Sobrinho, and special advisor on Major Events to the Ministry of Defence, General Luiz Felipe Linhares, also attended the press conference with foreign journalists.

Source: Ministry of Defence