Soldiers of the Marinha do Brasil and the Brazilian Army have been contributing since 2015 to the work of transforming Colombia into a mine-free country. The bilateral agreement was signed by the defense ministries of both countries to adjust Brazilian support to the Colombian case.
Today, the Brazilian military personnel of the Mission of Instructors and Advisers in Humanitarian Demining (MIADH) are at the Humanitarian Demining Engineers Brigade (BRDEH), the International Demining Center (CIDES), the Training and Instruction Center for Peace Operations (CEPAZ) and the Amphibious Instruction and Training Center (CIEAN). The work of these soldiers contributes to the formation and training of the Colombian military on demining, and in the same way the Brazilians improve their doctrines and knowledge with the experience and work of the Colombian military.
In the months of August and September, MIADH advisers made technical visits to the Humanitarian Demining Engineer Battalions (BIDEH) No. 3 and No. 7. The objective of the advisers was to observe the demining activities of the battalions, in addition to accompanying in person the quality management tasks of the technical sections of the military units.
Marine Captain Leandro Calabria Ventura Dos Santos, head of the MIADH, said: "I thank Colonel Carlos Rafael Tarazona Ocacion, commander of the Humanitarian Demining Engineer Brigade, for leading us to visit his battalions and participate in the activities. The commitment, professionalism and partnership built up by the Ministries of Defence have been carried out through this technical cooperation, which next January will complete ten years of a very successful history. A decade of work that has led the military of both countries to develop their doctrines and mutual knowledge, contributing to the integration of the Military Forces for the benefit of regional security and societies."
Thus, the mutual collaborations and knowledge exchanges resulting of the field visits led to improved procedures and expanded collaboration in the context of demining, strengthening the bonds of partnership between the Brazilian and Colombian military.
Source: Brazilian Military MIADH and Humanitarian Demining Brigade
