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Alexandre Silveira Surprises by Stating that, to Protect Its Wealth, the Country Will Need to Discuss the Military Use of Nuclear Technology, Something Currently Prohibited by the Constitution.
The Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira, sparked an important debate this Friday (5) by declaring that Brazil will need to plan to use nuclear energy in the defense sector. According to him, this is an unavoidable discussion to maintain national sovereignty, even if it means revisiting the current constitutional prohibition on the subject.
The Current Constitution and the Vision for The Future of Brazil
Currently, the Federal Constitution of Brazil is clear: it does not allow the use of nuclear energy for military development. However, Minister Alexandre Silveira argues that this is a position the country will need to reevaluate. “In the long term, I am absolutely sure that public officials in the country will have to reconsider the position so that we maintain a sovereign country“, he stated emphatically.
The defense of the change is based on what he describes as external threats. “Unfortunately, we are experiencing very strong attacks on our sovereignty“, said the minister, justifying the need to plan for the use of this source for national defense purposes.
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Why Nuclear Defense Has Become a Topic in Brazil?
The main justification Silveira provides for strengthening defense is the immense amount of natural resources in Brazil. The country has critical minerals, abundant freshwater, and a tropical climate, factors that, according to him, attract the interest and greed of other nations.
The minister even mentioned “speculative attacks” from U.S. President Donald Trump as an example of international pressures. “These are great riches in the underground, and Brazil must be sovereign in its defense“, he pointed out.
The Context of Silveira’s Controversial Statement
The statements by Alexandre Silveira were made during an interview granted following the investiture ceremony of the new directors of the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) and the National Nuclear Safety Authority (ANSN).
Despite the strong defense for military use, Silveira clarified that, at this moment, the government’s immediate focus is on developing the nuclear chain for energy purposes, that is, for electricity generation.
Sovereignty, Defense, and the Fight Against Inequalities in Brazil
For the minister, sovereignty is the key for Brazil to utilize its own wealth to solve its serious internal problems. “Brazil is gigantic by nature. A country with so many riches, with abundant minerals, we cannot admit that it continues to have misery, hunger, and inequality“, he concluded.
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