Brazil's Ministry of Indigenous Peoples has signed a memorandum of understanding with Peru's Ministry of Culture to bolster the protection of Indigenous territories situated along their shared border. The pact, which has been in development since 2024, establishes a framework for sharing information and coordinating protective measures, according to the Brazilian government.
The announcement follows recent meetings between Ashaninka Indigenous leaders and federal officials in Brasilia, where they sought urgent protection for their land. Earlier this month, armed individuals reportedly invaded their territory, which straddles the Brazil-Peru border in the western Amazon, threatening residents and searching for leaders.
The Ministry of Indigenous Peoples stated that safeguarding these territories and their inhabitants necessitates a unified approach to common threats, including invasions, illicit activities, and encroachment on traditional lands. The Ashaninka territory has become increasingly vulnerable to gangs and drug traffickers who utilize the Amazon's rivers and adjacent areas as routes for illicit operations.
Experts suggest that protecting Indigenous lands is a critical strategy for mitigating deforestation in the Amazon rainforest, a vital regulator of the global climate. However, the remote and densely forested nature of these lands also makes them attractive hiding places for criminal groups.
In response to the recent incursion, Brazil's federal police have initiated an investigation and launched an operation in the region alongside state authorities. This operation is designed to prevent and combat incursions into Indigenous territories, as well as to address criminal organizations, drug trafficking, environmental crimes, and other cross-border offenses.
The Brazilian Army has also increased its presence along the border, deploying approximately 30 troops. Preliminary information indicates that the individuals involved in the recent invasion may have been Peruvian nationals who crossed from the neighboring country. Previous criticisms from Indigenous groups have highlighted that such military deployments are often temporary, while the threats persist.