Brazil’s Defense Minister Celso Amorim announced that his government will buy four river patrol boats from Colombia to improve security along the Amazon River.
“It is very important because it is not just a casual purchase, but it is a practical demonstration of something we’ve said we will build, [the] foundation of a South American defense industry,” said Amorim.
Amorim promised to “further develop joint projects” with Colombia in the hopes of future collaboration on the sale of military equipment in the first of a two day meeting with his counterpart, Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon.
Increased cooperation in the region means that South America wouldn’t have to rely as much on Europe for obtaining military supplies, according to the Brazillian minister.
For his part, Pinzon said that Colombia is always seeking business opportunities with other South American nations to help boost the defense industry in the region.
Colombian military supply companies like state-owned Indumil, maker of a variety of combat weapons, are at the forefront of defense technology and hope to break into other national markets.
The ministers met in Bogota Wednesday ahead of a Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) conference to discuss bilateral issues like regional security and military cooperation.
Brazil offered their assistance in recovering French journalist Romeo Langlois who was allegedly taken by FARC forces Saturday.