Brazil's Defense Minister José Múcio said the most sensible strategy during a hypothetical U.S. military invasion would be to "open the gates."
The comments follow a diplomatic rift after the U.S. designated the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and Comando Vermelho (CV) as foreign terrorist organizations. This classification has sparked concerns within the Brazilian government regarding potential U.S. military intervention to target these groups on Brazilian soil.
Speaking at a press conference in Brasília on July 2, 2026 [1], Múcio said that Brazil lacks the defense capacity and the resources to repair the damages that would result from such a conflict. He characterized the U.S. decision to label the criminal groups as terrorists as an "intromission" [1].
While Múcio addressed the vulnerability of the nation's borders, other branches of the Brazilian government have expressed varying levels of concern. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, known as Itamaraty, has voiced apprehension over the possibility of U.S. military action following the terrorist designations [2]. In contrast, the Ministry of Defense has said it does not see an actual risk of U.S. military action occurring in Brazil [2].
U.S. President Donald Trump addressed the speculation regarding military intervention. Trump said the hypothesis of U.S. military action in Brazil is "absurd" [2].
Despite the president's dismissal, Múcio's remarks highlight a stark assessment of the military power imbalance between the two nations. He said that attempting to resist a superpower would be futile given the current state of Brazil's military resources [1].
“"The most sensible strategy would be to open the gates."”
The tension reflects a clash between U.S. counter-terrorism policy and Brazilian national sovereignty. By designating domestic gangs as foreign terrorists, the U.S. creates a legal framework for extraterritorial operations, which forces Brazil to balance its security partnership with the U.S. against the risk of foreign military presence on its territory.
