Brazil Treating Confederations Cup As 'Test Drive' For Upcoming Events

Brazil is using this year’s FIFA Confederations Cup "as a test drive," according to Kenneth Rapoza of FORBES. The government "wants to show that it is ready and prepared to provide top notch security for the major sets of games heading their way." The Brazilian military has mobilized 25,000 soldiers "to patrol all 16,886 kilometers of the entire Brazilian border shared with 10 South American countries." Operation Agata's purpose is mainly to keep football fans safe "in a country that has seen rising levels of crime," but troops are also focusing on cross-border crimes that could disrupt security during the Confederations Cup (FORBES, 5/18).