The Sinicization of Brazil’s Defense Industry

Raul Gouvea

Abstract

Latin American countries, including Brazil, have in the past two decades embarked on an aggressive defense diversification strategy, moving away from traditional defense suppliers such as the U.S. and Western Europe. China has become in a short period of time a major player in a number of Latin American markets, not only at the trade and investment levels, but increasingly at the defense level. This paper explores China- Latin America’s defense dynamic relationship, paying heed to Brazil’s recent China defense relations. China is increasingly using its trade and investment leverage with Brazil to unbalance Brazil’s defense choices.