US State Department permits long-delayed sale of advanced anti-tank missiles to Brazil

In the United States, anti-tank Javelin missile sale that has been stalled for months has finally been approved. The potential $74 million sale is to Brazil. As per a Reuters report quoting sources, the sale went pending for months after what several sources claimed was due to a Democratic-led campaign. It sought to block the sale because of worries about the far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, especially his attacks on Brazil’s election system. However, as per a formal notification sent to the US Congress on Tuesday, the State Department handed the package of 222 Javelins its final approval.

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Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) of the Pentagon claimed that it has alerted Congress of the potential sale of the advanced missiles.

Raytheon Technologies Corp and Lockheed Martin Corp collaborated to produce the missiles, which had gained notoriety for being used successfully by Ukrainian forces against Russian armour.

Brazil's initial proposal for the missiles was made while former President Donald Trump, a Bolsonaro ally, was in the White House.

Quoting people familiar with the situation, Reuters reports that the State Department approved the proposal in principle late last year despite opposition from some "lower-ranking" American officials.

However, after being sent for a private, "informal," review by the two Democratic chairs and the two Republican ranking members of the Congress' foreign relations committees, the contract was put on hold.

The DSCA responded to questioning from the congressmen about whether Brazil had a justifiable need for such weapons by asserting that it would strengthen the security of a significant regional ally of the United States and increase its capacity "to meet future threats."

In recent months, numerous other weapons purchases have been completed without issue.

The reason why the lawmakers have now consented to the Brazil deal going through is not immediately clear.Despite approval by the State Department, the notification does not represent the conclusion of negotiations or the execution of a contract.

(With inputs from agencies)

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