The Brazilian participation in UNIFIL: raising Brazil's profile in international peace and security in the Middle East?
Abstract Brazil's involvement in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) since 2011 has allowed for a direct participation as part of international peace and security efforts in the Middle East, strengthening the country's credentials as it presents itself as a 'peace provider' Informed by academic contributions on issues of responsibility and recognition, the article discusses Brazil's engagement with particular reference to UNIFIL's Maritime Task Force, and the implications of such participation for its broader foreign and defence policy agenda.Keywords: Brazil, UNIFIL, Middle East. Received: May 30, 2017Accepted: August 11, 2017 Introduction I n November 2011, Lebanese President Michel Sleiman visited the Brazilian frigate 'Uniao' stationed in the port of Beirut. The visit had a specific symbolic dimension; it was the first time that a Lebanese President was visiting a ship participating in the Maritime Task Force (MTF) of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) President Sleiman did not only visit the ship, but also spoke with the Brazilian officers of Lebanese descent that were part of the ship's crew