Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces

The origin of Brazil’s joint military command structure dates back to the General Staff of the Armed Forces (EMFA), which was established in 1946. The EMFA was created to provide strategic coordination among the Army, Navy, and Air Force, particularly in planning, doctrine, and national defense policy, while each service retained operational independence.^[2]

Its influence varied over time and was especially prominent during Brazil’s military government (1964–1985), when senior officers played a central role in national decision-making. Despite its name, the EMFA did not exercise unified command authority over the armed forces and remained limited by strong service autonomy.^[3]

In 1999, Brazil established the Ministry of Defence, replacing the separate service ministries and placing the armed forces under unified civilian leadership. This reform reduced the political role of the EMFA and highlighted the need for a more modern joint military staff aligned with international standards.^[4]

As part of broader defense reforms, the EMFA was formally dissolved in 2010 and replaced by the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces (EMCFA), following the enactment of Complementary Law No. 136 (2010). The EMCFA inherited many of the EMFA’s strategic planning functions, but it was designed with a stronger emphasis on joint operations, interoperability, logistics integration, military education, and strategic advisory roles.