Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the mobilization of 300,000 reservists to support military operations in Ukraine. And the remaining question is: What would it be like in Brazil if the same thing happened? Who stands in line if the country goes to war?
In Russia, only reservists who have completed mandatory military service will be drafted, according to Putin and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
The scenario is hypothetical – Brazil is historically a peaceful country with little involvement in conflicts outside its territory, despite sending troops to World Wars. But understand below how the summoning of Brazilian soldiers can be.
Who to call first if Brazil goes to war?
If Brazil is invited to participate in a war or a future war between Russia and Ukraine, it will be solely up to the Union to declare that will. No other authority, whether municipal or state, has the same authority to establish order. But the President cannot decide alone, he must send a request to the National Congress.
“The declaration of a State of War is subject to the competence of the Assembly. After that, it has normative and institutional consequences. Control mechanisms. At the same time, the National Mobilization System will begin to function, and this system, what procedures should be taken”, explains the Master’s in Constitutional Law and doctor, Eliana Franco Neme, a professor at USP (University of São Paulo) and Bauru University Center.
If Brazil were to participate in a war, the active army would be called first, whether they were members of the Armed Forces (Navy, Army and Air Force) or auxiliary forces such as the Military Police.
“If all active duty soldiers were exhausted, at some point the reservists would arrive. The younger ones would have priority on the call,” says Douglas Galiazzo, Professor of Law at Estácio.
In times of conflict, there is no maximum age limit for summons as determined by law. Military obligation in peacetime begins on the first day of January of the year in which the citizen turns 18 and continues until December 31 of the year in which he turns 45. In times of war this changes at two points:
- This period may be extended according to the interests of the national defense.
- Voluntary military service will be allowed from the age of 17.
Who can be exempt from war?
The general rules for refusal of summons, which normally apply in times of peace, change in times of conflict.
“Even persons claiming to hold religious, political or philosophical convictions can be summoned. Also in times of war, health barriers can be claimed, but these need to be proven and do not give rise to automatic dismissal depending on the problem and situation. At the IFF (Instituto de Estudos Estratégicos, Universidade Federal Fluminense) Vitelio Brustolin, professor at INEST and researcher at Harvard, explains.
Could Brazil go to war?
The Brazilian Army has already participated in some national armed conflicts and was present in both World Wars. At the start of the First World War, the country did not want to interfere because of its economic relations with the nations on both sides of the conflict.
But he provided pilots, military ships and medical support to aid the Triple Entente (Britain, Russia and France) after losing two ships. In addition, Brazilian troops moved in the Jutland region between Denmark and Germany, where the main battles were fought.
In the Second World War, the action of the Brazilian Army was more impressive. In 1944, about 25,000 soldiers were sent to fight alongside the American 5th Army on the northern Italian front. Getúlio Vargas declared war on Germany after German submarines sank five Brazilian merchant ships.
According to Douglas Galiazzo, depending on the complexity of the activity, the Brazilian army can participate in the designation of combat missions, as they are trained for it. But for Gunther Rudzit, a professor of International Relations at ESPM (Escola Superior de Propaganda e Marketing), Brazil has no chance to declare war on Russia.
“No luck. We are not part of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and our historic position is one of peaceful resolution of disputes. We will only engage in a conflict if the UN Security Council allows it. Send peacekeepers with UN Security. Council approval, as we did in Haiti ” said.
source: Noticias
