Rio security chief wants soldiers in city ahead of Olympics

State Security Secretary Jose Mariano Beltrame, speaking Thursday alongside Defence Minister Raul Jungmann, says the “request for external forces for Rio de Janeiro” will help local police to battle the city’s rising crime.

Brazil has already committed to using about 85,000 soldiers and police to guard the Olympics — about twice as many as London four years ago.

The state of Rio de Janeiro has cut about $550 million for its security budget — about 20 per cent — and Beltrame has repeatedly said he would like to have more police.