Elections in Brasil, Indonesia: Little Change Ahead For Defense?

• Indonesia’s new president Joko Widodo introduced [WSJ] what appears to be a business-friendly cabinet on balance, though political patronage remains [Sydney Morning Herald] part of the equation. Former army Chief of Staff Ryamizard Ryacudu is the new defense minister.

• Dilma Rousseff was reelected [BBC] as Brazil’s president with 51.6% of the vote, despite a lackluster first term. The business community seems to doubt she’ll be a better leader this time around on economic matters. If Brazil’s economy continues its slump, and in the absence of major external threats, more ambitious defense programs may be kept on the back-burner.