“Dissuasão integrada”: existem melhores conceitos para fortalecer alianças e parcerias na área de responsabilidade do Comando Sul

Abstract

The main objective of this monograph is to examine what could be the effects of the application of the concept of “integrated deterrence” by the United States in Latin America and the Caribbean, given that this is the main concept for current U.S. defense policy. The study was restricted to the area of responsibility of the U.S. Southern Command, with special attention to countries in the region of greatest importance to the U.S. Department of Defense, namely: Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, and Paraguay in South America, Guatemala in Central America, and the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean. To achieve this objective, the author researched the national defense objectives elaborated in the National Defense Strategy (NDS) of the United States, as well as the National Defense Policies, National Defense Strategies and Defense White Papers of some partner nations of the United States in Latin America and the Caribbean to identify common threats and common interests. In addition, the author used questionnaires in English and Portuguese to collect data from U.S. and Brazilian policymakers, academics, and practitioners with regard to which U.S. NDS concepts may be the most applicable in the Southern Command's area of responsibility. The author also compared the threats and objectives of each of the countries as stated in their national strategic documents with those of the United States to verify convergences and/or divergences. Finally, the author used the data obtained from the questionnaires to determine whether U.S. and Brazilian policymakers, academics, and practitioners believe that U.S. national defense policy objectives are correct and what are the possible effects of applying the NDS in a context different from that currently adopted by the U.S. Based on this analysis, the author then recommends adjustments to the U.S. defense policy to better adapt to the reality of the U.S. Southern Command's area of responsibility.