International military drill begins in Brazil

An international military exercise, organized by the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), began Monday at the country's two northeastern air bases, with the participation of air forces from Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela. The FAB said in a statement that the two air bases at Natal in the state of Rio Grande do Norte and at Recife in the state of Pernambuco -- hosted 86 airplanes and nine helicopters, and more than 2,000 Brazilian and foreign military personnel who were taking part in the drill called Cruzex 2013. "Cruzex also develops cooperation and good relationship between the participant Air Forces considering training experience sharing in a coalition environment," said the FAB in the statement. The exercise, held at the command of the FAB's Brigadier Mario Jordao in charge of the Brazilian states of Rio Grande do Norte, Ceara, Paraiba and Pernambuco, as well as the Atlantic Ocean, will last till Nov. 15, aiming to provide advanced training for military personnel in a modern-war environment. The first military drill of the kind was conducted in 2002.