On the 2nd day in Brazil, the French president participates in the launch of a submarine in Rio this Wednesday – News

Alongside President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, participates this Wednesday morning (27) in the launch into the sea of ​​the Tonelero, a conventional diesel-electric propulsion submarine, at the Itaguaí Naval Base ( RJ). The equipment was built through Prosub (Submarine Program), in a partnership that Brazil and France signed in 2008.

The submarine is 71 meters long and has a submerged displacement of 1,870 tons. After being placed in the water, it will be subjected to testing to evaluate the stability conditions at sea and the navigation and combat systems.

The submersion procedure is quick and takes about 30 minutes. The gesture will be made by the first lady, Rosângela da Silva, better known as Janja. In this part of Macron’s visit to Brazil, the leaders will discuss the future of the territorial defense aquatic products program.

The French president arrived in Brazil this Tuesday (26) and completed agendas in Belém (PA), accompanied by Lula. Macron heads to São Paulo (SP) this Wednesday afternoon (27) and arrives in Brasília this Thursday (28), his last day in Brazil.

Partnership

Lula and Macron must discuss the future of Prosub. The decree that established the program provides that French support for Brazil will be restricted to the design and construction of “the non-nuclear part” of the submarine. However, the two countries are considering renegotiating this section.

The presidents should talk about possible cooperation from France in supplying fuel for the first conventionally armed Brazilian submarine with nuclear propulsion.

The equipment is developed by the Brazilian Navy and will be named Álvaro Alberto, in honor of the Navy’s patron saint of science, technology and innovation. Delivery is expected by 2033.

Two other submarines

In addition to the Tonelero, the Navy launched two submarines made by Prosub: the Riachuelo and the Humaitá. The delivery of another conventional submarine, the Angostura, and the manufacture of the Álvaro Alberto are planned. According to the Navy, this “will represent an unprecedented increase” in the technological level of national defense.

Macron and Lula must sign 15 texts, involving topics such as Embrapa’s technical cooperation with the French counterpart, modernization of public and audiovisual management and the creation of an immunology center in Ceará.

Mercosur and European Union

During Macron’s official visit to Brazil, the two presidents must also discuss the agreement between Mercosur and the European Union. Macron is one of the European presidents most critical of the partnership.

His assessment is that the negotiations could negatively affect the competitiveness of the French in relation to the South Americans, mainly on the agricultural issue. Negotiations should resume in the second half of the year, and the Brazilian side expects it to be concluded this year.

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