First lady, Janja da Silva, christens the submarine Tonelero at an event at the Itaguaí Naval Complex, in Rio
In a speech, Lula told Macron that Brazil is investing in submarines with nuclear technology not to “wage war”, but to work for peace.
“President Macron, go back to France and tell the French that Brazil wants the knowledge of nuclear technology not to wage war. We want to have the knowledge to guarantee all countries that want peace, that they know that Brazil will be at their side of everyone, because war does not build, war destroys”, declared Lula.
“What it builds is development, it is scientific knowledge, it is technological knowledge. It is in this area that we want to strengthen our partnership with the French people”, added the PT member.
The president of Brazil also said that the country needs to have “highly qualified and prepared” Armed Forces to guarantee peace when necessary.
Regarding the conflict in Europe, for example, Lula stated that both Russia, governed by Vladimir Putin, and Ukraine, under Volodymyr Zelensky, have responsibility for the conflict.
‘Animosity’ against democracies
Also in the speech, Lula said that there is “animosity” against the democratic process in Brazil and other countries around the world.
“Today, we know, there is a very serious problem of animosity against the democratic process in this country, against the democratic process on planet Earth,” he said.
“And we know that the partnership that France is building with us is a partnership that will allow two important countries, each on a continent, to prepare so that we can live with this diversity without worrying about any type of war, because We are defenders of peace at any time in our history”, stated Lula.
Also in this part of the speech, Lula did not mention any threat against democratic regimes in the world.
In the statement, Brazilian diplomacy states that there were no explanations about the impediment of the registration in the elections of a candidate who opposes Nicolás Maduro.
Partnership between France and Brazil
The Tonelero submarine was manufactured in the Submarine Development Program (ProSub), which is part of the Brazil-France strategic partnership, signed in 2008. The project adapts and improves the French Scorpène class vessels to the needs of the Brazilian Navy.
Tonelero is the third conventional submarine with diesel-electric propulsion built at Prosub. The technology transfer program between the countries aims to deliver 5 submarines, 4 conventional and 1 nuclear, by 2033.
Currently, 2 submarines developed by Prosub are already in operation: Humaitá and Riachuelo. The program also includes the construction of the S-BR Angostura (S43) and the Conventionally Armed Submarine with Nuclear Propulsion (SCPN) Álvaro Alberto.
In a speech, Emmanuel Macron said he was “proud” of the naval partnership between France and Brazil.
“I am particularly happy that you [brasileiros] have the honor of the operational launch of this magnificent combat instrument […]. This partnership represents an unparalleled transfer of technology for France. We have never shared so much of our knowledge with Brazil,” she said.
