Philippines, Brazil explore defense ties as new attaché assumes post

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February 6, 2026 | 5:39pm

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of National Defense met with Brazil's newly-designated defense attaché on Thursday, February 5, to discuss expanding military cooperation between the two countries.

Captain Luciano da Silva Maciel, Brazil's non-resident defense attaché to the Philippines, paid an introductory call on Senior Undersecretary Irineo Espino at the DND headquarters in Quezon City on February 5. Brazilian Ambassador Gilberto Fonseca Guimarães de Moura and Deputy Head of Mission Rubem Guimarães Coan Fabro Amaral joined the meeting.

During the talks, both sides discussed advancing bilateral defense cooperation in logistics, the defense industry and maritime security, the DND said in a statement, without giving specific projects or timelines.

The DND undersecretary spoke of the Philippines' implementation of the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept and said the country was pursuing defense engagements with “like-minded partners” to support a rules-based international order.

The defense official also pointed to Brazil as "one of the ... important contributors" in the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ modernization program and raised the possibility of technology exchanges related to the country’s self-reliant defense posture, the DND said. 

Brazil is the Philippines' only formal defense partner in Latin America. The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation in 2022.

De Moura said he welcomed deeper cooperation on defense and security matters. He expressed support for the Philippines' chairmanship of ASEAN this year. 

The Philippines has sought new defense partnerships in recent years as tensions continue to mount with China in the South China Sea. Chinese vessels routinely shadow Philippine Coast Guard and other government vessels near contested features and have blocked resupply missions to Filipino troops. This has prompted Manila to deepen military ties with countries beyond the United States, its traditional ally and only treaty partner.