The Silence of the Armed Forces

In the 2018 and 2022 elections, the Armed Forces were quite loud and present in the public debate. However, in the 2026 election, an unusual silence is observed in the barracks, which is not considered a coincidence. Over the past four years, military commanders carried out a silent but determined effort to correct the course that former President Jair Bolsonaro had set for the Armed Forces. This effort sought to reestablish the institutional position of the Armed Forces, which during the Bolsonaro government were frequently used as a political-partisan instrument. The commanders' operation involved both public and discreet actions, including visits to military establishments throughout Brazil and various internal conversations. Some decisions made during this period were public, such as the prohibition of demonstrations by active-duty personnel on social media, while others remained more reserved. The article, published with exclusive access for subscribers, highlights that this change in behavior represents an attempt by the Armed Forces to recover their tradition of political and institutional neutrality.