[corkoman]

Brazil has no natural predators and hardly needs a military let alone ship-killing missiles.

And Brazilians in general are the least likely to want to pull ANY trigger on anything that shoots.

I kind of like that about them.

[T-Bone Texan]

I call it hedonism-based apathy!

[spetznaz]

It may not have any natural predators, but it has some of the largest offshore reserves in the world. Considering the political and social transitions that have occurred in South America, and being the only Portuguese speaking nation in the area, has to be self sufficient.

As for pulling triggers - there's a police unit called BOPE that is comprised of SWAT-esque cops (more like special forces) that are reputed to be the most trigger-happy chaps in the Western Hemisphere. When they go to the favelas they always rack up a body count, and are often more ruthless than the already bloodthirsty gangs that infest the favelas.