Brazil’s Bolsonaro Considers Military Mission to Fight Fires in the Amazon

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro is considering the deployment of armed forces. Asked if he intends to free up funds, the president said the problem is having resources available.

Cornered amid global repercussions of out of control fires in the Amazon region, Bolsonaro said his government would do everything in its power.

Soldiers could help fight fires, Bolsonaro told news portal G1 on Friday. The head of state also signed an order calling on all ministers to take the necessary measures to monitor and combat fires in the Amazon region.

After suffering criticism from French President Emmanuel Macron, Bolsonaro signed an order on Thursday, August 22nd, ordering that all ministerial staff adopts measures to combat the series of fires in the Amazon rainforest. The document, which also provides for the ministerial portfolios to survey fire outbreaks, was signed during an emergency meeting hosted by the president at Planalto Palace.

The meeting was attended by the ministers of the Chief of Staff, Environment, Defense, Agriculture, and Foreign Affairs.

The aim is to “preserve and defend the Amazon rainforest, our national heritage,” the order said.

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