CHAPTER 1 — THE BRAZILIAN STATE AND NATIONAL DEFENSE National Defense One of the state’s role is to provide the defense and security that are necessary to ensure that society may reach its goals. It is the state’s duty to ensure that the nation does not face the risk of foreign aggression, or that it is exposed to political pressures or unbearable economic sanctions, and is free to care for its own development and progress. Brazil exercises complete and exclusive sovereignty8 over its land mass, its waters and overlying airspace, with no foreign interference whatsoever accepted in its decision making process. The Brazilian state works to increase confidence and understanding among the states in order to contribute to the prevention of conflicts that may intensify threats to National Security. Air Force monitoring borders National Defense, as defined in the National Defense Policy is the “set of state measures and actions, especially within the military field, to ensure the defense of the territory, sovereignty and national interests, mainly against foreign threats, potential or manifest”. Sovereignty is the first fundamental principle stated in Art. 1 of the Brazilian Federal Constitution. Sovereignty is inalienable, indivisible, and imprescriptible. It must be exercised by general will and be preserved on behalf of the future generations and the country’s prosperity. It is a supreme order, not to be prevailed. 8 26 DEFENSE WHITE PAPER