Golbery do Couto e Silva

Golbery do Couto e Silva (August 21, 1911 – September 18, 1987) was a Brazilian General of the Army, who developed the Brazilian National Security Doctrine.

Golbery was born in Rio Grande do Sul. Admitted to the Brazilian Military School for Officers at Agulhas Negras at the age of 16 in 1927, he became an officer on November 22, 1930. He served in the 9th Infantry Regiment in the Pelotas city of the State of Rio Grande do Sul.

As a lieutenant, he also served in the 6th Infantry Regiment. In May 1937 he was promoted to captain and began to serve on the National Security Council. Later he was sent to Curitiba in the state of Parana. Soon after, he was sent to Joinville, serving in the 13th Chasseurs' Brigade.

In December 1941 he began his studies at the General Staff School of the Brazilian Army. He graduated in August 1943, and in the same year was sent to the 3rd Military Region, in Porto Alegre.

He was part of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force as an Intelligence Officer during the Second World War, a post he occupied until the end of the war.

Returning to Brazil in October 1946, Captain Golbery was reassigned to the state of Rio Grande do Sul and then to Rio de Janeiro. After some years of service, he reached the rank of general.

Doctrine of National Security

In 1966 he wrote a book entitled Geopolítica do Brasil (Brazilian Geopolitics) in which he argued for a doctrine of national security that would connect the state to the economy in the name of national security. This book greatly influenced the armed forces during the military dictatorship in Brazil.

He died, aged 76, in São Paulo.