The Brazilian President, Michel Temer, is set to meet senior military leaders on Wednesday to discuss the escalating drug crisis in the country, according to government officials.
Temer will also meet with the military’s top commander, Gen. Eduardo Cunha, and a senior general from the army’s elite force, the 3rd Infantry Brigade, said Brigadier-General Eduardo Pinto.
Temers top security adviser, Rodrigo Silva, is also set to attend.
Temering is facing criticism over his handling of the drug crisis, which has killed more than 40,000 people and left nearly 5 million homeless.
More than 10,000 civilians have been killed in the conflict.
“The President will ask the military to continue to carry out their work and to continue providing the support they have received,” Pinto said.
The President is also expected to ask the head of Brazil’s foreign intelligence agency, the Federal Police, to continue coordinating the fight against drugs.
Temero, who has taken power following Brazil’s impeachment vote in November, said last week he was open to talks with the leaders of the armed forces.
But Temer has been criticized for not meeting with his military chief, Gen Eduardo Capriles, and for failing to hold a dialogue with the head in charge of the military.
Brazil’s military has been criticised for being overly aggressive in its drug war, but the military chief has been unable to meet his counterparts in the government.
The Brazilian government has been holding negotiations with drug traffickers and is also trying to secure the release of a prominent lawyer from prison who has been imprisoned for almost a year.
