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Did You Know That Uruguay Once Belonged to Brazil? And That, In 1971, Brazil Had a Secret Plan to Invade Uruguay in Less Than 30 Hours? Let’s Understand This Story Full of Twists Better.
In the early 70s, the world was divided between capitalists, led by the United States, and socialists, led by the Soviet Union, in what was known as the Cold War. Brazil, governed by the military and allied with the U.S., feared the expansion of socialism in Latin America.
In 1971, Uruguay was facing a presidential election with great chances of victory for a socialist coalition. This greatly concerned the Brazilian military government, which did not want a socialist country on its border. Brazilian President Emílio Médici, along with his generals, devised an invasion plan called “Operation 30 Hours” or “Operation Charrua.”
The Plan Consisted of Mobilizing Troops from Brazil from Porto Alegre, Uruguaiana, Santana do Livramento, and Bagé
These troops would cross the border and take Montevideo, the Uruguayan capital, and the Rincón del Bonete hydroelectric plant, crucial for the country’s energy supply. All of this was supposed to happen in less than 30 hours to avoid international repercussions.
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Secret documents revealed that U.S. President Richard Nixon supported the Brazilian plan. There was a real fear that socialism would spread through Uruguay, especially after the kidnapping of a Brazilian diplomat and an American official by Uruguayan guerrillas.
In November 1971, Brazilian Troops Were Ready to Invade Uruguay
However, the election results ended up being favorable to the interests of Brazil and the United States, avoiding the need for invasion. This story reveals how international politics and geopolitical interests shaped the relationship between Brazil and Uruguay. Although the invasion never occurred, the episode shows that Brazil was willing to take drastic measures to prevent the expansion of socialism in Latin America at that time.
Que inversão, quem sabe o Uruguai faz o contrário agora.
Que coisa hein .. como a situação política muda rapidamente … Hoje o Uruguay tem um governo de direita com total estabilidade política relevante com alto IDH e o Brasil sob a gestão de um governo socialista envolvido por corrupção generalizada …!