BRASILIA, Brazil, July 17 (UPI) -- The Brazilian Army has delivered refurbished Cascavel armored vehicles to neighboring Suriname under a 2012 bilateral agreement.
The Cascavel, originally manufactured by a now defunct Brazilian company, is a 6X6 armored car.
Refurbishment of the two vehicles was conducted at the Army's Regional Maintenance Facility in Rio de Janeiro, where two additional vehicles are undergoing work before their transfer to Suriname.
Suriname, a former colony of the Netherlands, is located on the northern cone of South America. Brazilian Defense Minister Celso Amorim has called for more ties with Suriname, a partner in building a security community in the region.
Under the 2012 cooperative agreement, Brazil will provide Suriname with training in logistics sustainability for the armored cars.
Brazil said the vehicles were transported to Suriname by landing ship. A ceremony marking the transfer of the vehicles to the Suriname Armed Forces National Command was held.
