Portuguese 
Coordinated by the Ministry of Defense, the Felino 2026 Exercise Took Place from August 10 to 21 in Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná. The Navy, Army, and Air Force Trained Alongside Military Personnel from Five CPLP Countries, Simulating Peace Operations in the Fictional Country Carana
Military personnel from Brazil and countries of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) spent two weeks in the Foz do Iguaçu region of Paraná, training on how to respond within a nation experiencing civil war. The Combined Joint Felino 2026 Exercise, in the phase called Forces on the Ground, occurred from August 10 to 21 and was coordinated by the Ministry of Defense. The declared objective was to enhance interoperability and combined operational capability in a peace operation scenario.
The information was published by the Brazilian Army on its official website, in its Military Diplomacy section, on September 8, 2026. According to the publication, the training brought together Brazil’s three Armed Forces and military personnel from five other Portuguese-speaking countries.
Approximately 700 Brazilian Military Personnel and 38 Foreigners Participated in the Training
image: Brazilian Army
The Felino 2026 exercise brought together approximately 700 Brazilian military personnel and 38 foreign participants, according to a report released by the Brazilian Army.
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Participants shared knowledge, adjusted procedures, and acted in an integrated manner in response to scenarios that required planning and coordination among different forces and countries.
Activity Lasted Two Weeks, from August 10 to 21
The exercise’s schedule spanned from August 10 to 21, totaling two weeks of activities in the Foz do Iguaçu region.
During this period, the training combined office work and practical actions on the ground, with a sequence of simulated situations unfolding over a single scenario.
Navy, Army, and Air Force Trained Alongside Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Portugal, and East Timor
imagem: Brazilian Army
The Brazilian contingent included the Brazilian Navy, the Brazilian Army, and the Brazilian Air Force.
On the foreign side, military personnel from Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Portugal, and Timor-Leste participated, the five countries that joined Brazil in the Paraná training camp.
Exercise was both ‘joint’ and ‘combined’
imagem: Brazilian Army
The classification of the Felino 2026 incorporates two military terms that complement each other. The activity was joint because it involved more than one Armed Force, and combined because it brought together different nations.
This dual condition was precisely what was intended to be tested: to have sailors, soldiers, and aviators from six countries operating under a single command structure.
Fictional scenario created the country Carana, marked by armed conflict and humanitarian crisis
imagem: Brazilian Army
The exercise’s script used a fictional country called Carana, described as being marked by armed conflict, instability, and humanitarian crisis.
In this setting, the military faced situations similar to those encountered in real peace operations, without any actual country involved in the storyline.
Participants formed a Combined Joint Task Force
image: Brazilian Army
To operate in Carana, military personnel from six countries were assembled into a Combined Joint Task Force, a structure that groups personnel from different forces and nationalities under a single command.
The activities included both the staff planning done during the decision phase and the execution of actions on the ground.
Humanitarian aid, displaced persons camps, and convoy escort were part of the agenda
The simulated situations included clearing roads, distributing humanitarian aid, and protecting displaced persons camps—three tasks typically found in crisis environments.
Convoy escort was also part of the training, requiring coordination among teams moving across the terrain.
Detection and neutralization of explosive devices was one of the simulated tasks
The exercise included the detection and neutralization of explosive devices, a procedure that is often present in areas where armed conflict has occurred.
This phase was integrated into the same set of actions conducted by the Task Force over the two weeks.
Chemical decontamination of environments and aeromedical evacuation were also practiced
Chemical decontamination of environments was included in the list of practical activities of Felino 2026, alongside aeromedical evacuation.
These are two procedures that require specialized teams and rapid response, both of which were executed within the crisis scenario established in Carana during the exercise.
Defense against drones concluded the simulation package
image: Brazilian Army
The defense against remotely piloted aerial systems, drones, was another of the scenarios simulated during the exercise in Foz do Iguaçu.
The training aimed to enhance multinational coordination, contributing to the improvement of decision-making processes and operational readiness of the participating military, according to a publication by the Brazilian Army.
Felino 2026 Exercise has been held since 2000 among countries of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries
The Felino Exercise has been taking place since 2000 and promotes joint training among the Armed Forces of the CPLP countries.
According to the Brazilian Army, the activity fosters knowledge exchange, the development of common procedures, and strengthens mutual trust among participants.
The 2026 edition followed up on the planning carried out in Equatorial Guinea
The edition held in Brazil continued the planning developed the previous year during the Felino Exercise in the format of a Map Exercise, conducted in Equatorial Guinea.
The cycle thus advanced from the planning stage to the execution of actions on the ground in Foz do Iguaçu.
CPLP flag was passed from Brazil to Timor-Leste at the closing ceremony
The closing ceremony marked the transfer of the CPLP flag from Brazil to Timor-Leste, a gesture symbolizing the transition to the next cycle of the exercise.
The ceremony also included celebrations of the 30th anniversary of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries.
Timor-Leste takes over the next cycle and defense cooperation continues
With the transfer of the flag, Timor-Leste will lead the next phase of the Felino Exercise, continuing the rotation among the countries of the community.
For the Brazilian Army, the continuation of the Felino Exercise and the training held in Brazil strengthen defense cooperation among CPLP countries and contribute to the training and operational readiness of military personnel, enhancing joint operational capabilities in multinational environments.
