Peruvian army Maj. Gen. Marco Marin Saldana (left), U.S. Army South Deputy Commanding General of Interoperability, and Brazilian army Col. Sergio Reis Matos, the Brazilian partner nation liaison officer at USARSOUTH, pose for a photo before they cut a cake during a Brazilian Independence Day celebration at Joint Base San Antonio, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, on Sept. 6, 2024. Since July 2023, Matos has worked to strengthen the historic partnership between Brazil and the United States, focusing on enhancing military collaboration and interoperability. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Joshua Taeckens)