Operation Cabralzinho

Operation Cabralzinho
Part of Cold War
Location	French Guiana
Planned	qhat
Planned by	Brazil
Objective	Invasion of French Guiana
Date	1961
Outcome	Never took place

Operation Cabralzinho was a planned invasion of French Guiana by the government of Brazil.

Background

On the day 3 of August 1961, the current brazilian president, Jânio Quadros, organized a meeting with the then governor of Amapá, Mouro Cavalcanti. The meeting was held in secret and had the objective to discuss the clandestine exploitation of brazilian manganese, and how the manganese was supposedly sent to the French Guiana and exported to other European countries. Using this as context, Jânio proposed to the governor of Amapá the invasion, occupation and annexation of French Guiana.

The plan consisted of a lightning invasion of the french territory, and would count with the support of three branches of the Brazilian Armed Forces.

Military Preparations

The invading brazilian force would consist of 5 army brigades (Closing 2.500 men), a naval flotilla and support of the Brazilian Air Force, opening passageways through the jungle towards Oiapoque, where the invasion would begin. The forces would follow the road from Saint George to Cayenne, as the flottila layed siege to the capital and as the FAB provided tactical support.

Cancellation

Only 22 days later, on 25 of August 1961, president Jânio Quadros resigned his position, and the plan was scrapped.