168 Chapter 2
Fatalities: None
Narrative: The Soviet Union planned on sending a fishing fleet to the Brazilian coast
to confirm its perceived rights in the region. The Brazilian government threatened it
would seize any ships in its waters. The Soviets never sent the fleet.
MID#2923
Dispute Number: 2923
Date(s): May 4, 1968 to May 22, 1968
Participants: 140 Brazil/365 Russia
Outcome (and Settlement): Released (Negotiated)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: On May 4, 1968, the Brazilian aircraft carrier Minas Gerais found a Soviet
ship two miles off the coast of Santos. The Soviet ship’s captain, Nikolai Tregubenko,
said that the ship was engaged in scientific research with satellites. The Soviet embassy
apologized for “the mistake committed by the commander of the ship” and promised
it would not be repeated. The Brazilian Foreign Ministry then gave permission for the
ship to leave, but the Brazilian navy insisted on continuing its investigation, and Brazil
released the ship about one week later, on May 22.
Coding changes: End Date changed from May 18, 1968.
140 Brazil/620 Libya
MID#3068
Dispute Number: 3068
Date(s): April 16, 1983 to June 14, 1983
Participants: 140 Brazil/620 Libya
Outcome (and Settlement): Released (Negotiated)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: On April 16, 1983, four Libyan planes landed in northern Brazil to refuel.
Libya claimed the planes were carrying medical supplies for Nicaragua, but when the
C-130 developed mechanical problems the Libyans did not allow Brazilian mechan-
ics aboard, nor could the pilots provide manifests or route details. Brazilian officials
became suspicious. A subsequent search found 52 tons of arms aboard the plane. On
April 20, Brazil protested to Libya and declared that the planes could not proceed to
Nicaragua. Libya’s Qaddafi apologized for not being forthright about the cargo, and
Nicaragua acknowledged the military cargo two days later. Brazil then boarded the
aircraft, seized the cargo, and asked the pilots to return the planes to Libya; however,
Qaddafi instructed the pilots to remain as long as the planes did not have the weapons.
On April 28, US President Reagan used the incident as proof of outside armaments
in the Nicaraguan civil war, and the next day Qaddafi accused Brazil of bowing to
US imperialism. Libya threatened to break diplomatic relations with Brazil and to
end weapons purchases if Brazil did not release the military cargo. On June 8, Libya
and Brazil announced an agreement to the dispute. The planes returned to Libya one
at a time, each one leaving once the Brazilian ambassador to Libya verified that the