This paper examines the US National Security Strategies, 2002 and 2006, with a view to understanding the impact that some of their elements, including the doctrine of pre-emptive war, may have on Brazilian military thought. By focusing on revealing articles by Brazilian military intellectuals, and re-examining the international legal implications of the Strategies, the author determines that the implicit threats to the national sovereignty of middle-range powers will intensify the growing suspicion and sense of threat posed by the US to the Armed Forces of Brazil.