Top Naval Leaders: Adm. Lisa Franchetti and Adm. Marcos Sampaio Olsen Discuss Strategic Maritime Collaboration

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti met with her Brazilian counterpart, Adm. Marcos Sampaio Olsen, in Rio de Janeiro today for a formal bilateral engagement during the Inter-American Naval Conference (IANC).

The meeting underscored the commitment of both nations to bolstering naval partnerships and interoperability. This year marks 200 years of bilateral diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Brazil. Both leaders believe this milestone offers an excellent opportunity to chart a course for future cooperation, emphasizing the significant impact of their longstanding relationship.

Adm. Franchetti expressed her gratitude to Adm. Olsen for hosting IANC and acknowledged the Brazilian Navy’s leadership in the South Atlantic region, especially as a major non-NATO ally. She highlighted Brazil’s participation in major naval exercises such as UNITAS LXV and Southern Seas 2024. Additionally, Franchetti praised Brazil’s command of the multi-national Combined Maritime Forces’ Combined Task Force 151 earlier this year.

The discussion also touched on shared values of democracy and the commitment to uphold a rules-based international order, crucial for protecting global commerce. Franchetti and Olsen reviewed Franchetti’s recently released strategic guidance, the Navigation Plan for America’s Warfighting Navy. They discussed the future role of robotic and autonomous systems in conflicts and their importance in maritime domain awareness across both joint and combined forces.

Adm. Franchetti reiterated the U.S.’s dedication to its partnership with Brazil, emphasizing that the relationship is built on shared strategic interests. She expressed optimism about future opportunities to integrate, train, and operate together in various capacities.