Brazil-Russia Defense Cooperation: An analysis of initiatives and obstacles since 1990

Abstract

This article analyses the evolution of Brazil-Russia cooperation in the defence sector since the 1990s. It starts with the following question: why, despite the convergence of interests and the opportunities identified since the end of the Cold War, has the strategic partnership not advanced consistently in this sector? It is argued that, in addition to political, economic and technical factors, such as internal instability and low business assertiveness, cooperation has been limited by Brazil's historical prioritisation of the acquisition of Western armaments. This preference reinforces patterns of dependence and restricts national autonomy in military-technological development. A combination of bibliographical review and historiographical approach is used to examine the main joint projects enacted since 1990, as well as the challenges and results of these initiatives. The study's contribution falls within the fields of foreign policy and strategic studies by presenting how Brazilian military socialisation with Western models has an impact on the possibilities of alternative partnerships to Western ones in the defence sector.