Brazil replacing military chiefs after Bolsonaro cabinet shake-up

The move comes after President Jair Bolsonaro made six cabinet changes amid mounting pressure over the COVID crisis.

The commanders of Brazil’s army, navy and air force will be replaced, the country’s defence ministry has announced, following a cabinet reshuffle that came amid mounting pressure on the government to respond to surging coronavirus cases and deaths. The ministry said in a statement on Tuesday that the decision was made earlier in the day in a meeting with incoming Defence Minister Walter Braga Netto and his predecessor, Fernando Azevedo e Silva. It did not provide any additional details about the changes.