US, Brazil sign defense agreement

[Bacchus39]

US, Brazil sign defense agreement

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100412/pl_afp/usbrazilmilitary

WASHINGTON (AFP) – US and Brazilian defense chiefs on Monday signed a military cooperation agreement designed to bolster security ties, despite strain over Iran and a fighter jet contract.

The accord would promote collaboration in military research and development, training, joint exercises, and commercial projects, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said.

"The agreement is a formal acknowledgement of the many security interests and values we share as the two most populous democracies in the Americas," Gates told a news conference with his Brazilian counterpart, Nelson Jobim.

US and Brazilian leaders have disagreed over diplomatic strategy on Iran, with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva warning against piling pressure on Tehran through fresh sanctions.

Although Gates spoke of cooperation between the countries' defense industries, the deal comes amid expectations US aviation giant Boeing will lose out on a major contract to supply fighter jets to Brazil.

France's Rafale made by Dassault is seen as the front-runner against Sweden's Gripen NG by Saab and Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet, after Lula expressed his preference for the Rafale.

Jobim said the defense agreement "will allow us to strengthen our relationship."

Gates also praised Brazil's contribution to the UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti, saying it "ably took the lead in the UN forces' relief and recovery efforts" after the January 12 earthquake.

[subsuelo]

1. so what's this really about?

I found this snippet in another article:

“Brazil is going to get recognition, and that is very important. Future wars are going to be as much about the management of information and intelligence as they are about armaments and Brazil does not know how to do that. The US is the perfect country to help us minimize that risk,” says Fernando Arbache, an anti-terrorism expert in Sao Paulo who teaches at Brazil’s Naval Headquarters.

http://news.brunei.fm/2010/04/14/brazil-and-u-s-sign-defence-cooperation-agreement/

Anyone able to decipher any of this?