Brazil Defense Minister José Múcio Says Brazil Would ‘Open Gate’ to US Invasion

During a Confederation of National Industry (CNI) event on maritime decarbonisation, Brazil’s defence minister José Múcio was asked how the country would respond if the United States attempted an invasion. He replied, “Abro o portão, porque a gente não tem equipamento para enfrentá-los e nem tem dinheiro para consertar o portão,” adding that he would “prefer to open the gate.” Múcio used the hypothetical scenario to stress that Brazil allocates only about 1 % of GDP to defence, a level he says is insufficient to modernise the armed forces. He compared defence spending to a health‑insurance plan – bought for peace of mind, hoping never to use it.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, speaking at the PT national convention, echoed the call for higher defence funding, citing Brazil’s extensive land and maritime borders, the Amazon rainforest and its share of the world’s freshwater. The remarks came amid heightened diplomatic friction with the United States, including the revocation of the Brazilian ambassador’s visa. Analysts note that Brazil ranks 11th in the Global Firepower index, highlighting the contrast between its perceived military strength and the minister’s admission of capability gaps.

Múcio’s statement aims to secure a more predictable and larger defence budget, warning that current under‑investment leaves the country vulnerable to external pressures.