A participação da Marinha do Brasil na força-tarefa marítima da operação do Líbano: projeção de poder e política externa

Abstract

This paper aims to analyze the contribution of the Brazilian Navy participation in the Maritime Task Force (MTF) ofthe United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to the Brazilian Foreign Policy. Six years ago, the UN handed over the command of MTF-UNIFIL to Brazil, giving Brazilian Navy the status of a reference institution for effectively leading the first and only United Nations Naval Force. Initially, power relations between States,supported by realist and liberal international political theories,are analyzed to quantify, empirically, the Brazilian hard power andsoft power in the international system. Next, the characteristics of the peacekeepingoperations are identified, as well as the strategy of the Brazilian governments of international insertion and projection of power, through the participation in this international military operation, to apply for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council. The particularities of Brazilian Navy’s operations in the complex politicalboard of the Middle East are described, as well as the perception of important theoreticians, politicians, military and diplomats about the contribution of the Brazilian Naval Power in the MTF-UNIFIL for foreign policy. It is concluded that Brazilian Navy’s participation in the UNIFIL Maritime Task Force contributes to Brazil's insertion in the international arena, being an important foreign policy instrument that maintains it able toclaim a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.