MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, March 29th 2024 - 05:48 UTC

 

 

Brazil seeks supremacy in South America, said Bolsonaro, who did not discard a US military base in Brazil

Saturday, January 5th 2019 - 09:37 UTC
Full article 17 comments
“Depending on what happens in the world, who knows if we would not need to discuss that question (of a US military presence) in the future,” Bolsonaro said “Depending on what happens in the world, who knows if we would not need to discuss that question (of a US military presence) in the future,” Bolsonaro said
He emphasized that what Brazil seeks is to have “supremacy here in South America” He emphasized that what Brazil seeks is to have “supremacy here in South America”

Brazil’s new President Jair Bolsonaro said that he would be open to the possibility of the United States operating a military base on his country’s soil, a move that would form a sharp shift in direction for Brazilian foreign policy.

Bolsonaro, who took power on Tuesday, said that Russia’s support of President Nicolas Maduro’s “dictatorship” in neighboring Venezuela had significantly ramped up tensions in the region and was a worrying development.

Asked by the SBT TV network in an interview taped on Thursday if that meant he would allow U.S. military presence in Brazil, Bolsonaro responded that he would certainly be willing to negotiate that possibility.

“Depending on what happens in the world, who knows if we would not need to discuss that question in the future,” Bolsonaro said.

He emphasized that what Brazil seeks is to have “supremacy here in South America.”

The far-right leader is upending foreign policy dating back over a decade, which saw the leftist Workers Party emphasizing South-South relations and sometimes tussling on the international stage with the United States.

Bolsonaro, a 63-year-old former Army captain and admirer of both Brazil’s 1964 to 1985 military dictatorship and U.S. President Donald Trump, has quickly deepened ties with the Unites States and Israel.

Bolsonaro’s national security adviser, retired Army General Augusto Heleno, confirmed earlier on Thursday that the president wants to move Brazil’s embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, but that logistical considerations were standing in the way.

Heleno did not elaborate.

But the country’s powerful agriculture sector is opposed to moving the embassy from Tel Aviv and angering Arab nations that buy billions of dollars worth of Brazilian halal or “permissible” meat each year.

Benjamin Netanyahu became the first Israeli Prime Minister to visit Brazil this week when he attended Bolsonaro’s inauguration. After a private meeting, Netanyahu said that Bolsonaro told him that moving the embassy was a matter of “when, not if.”

Heleno said on Thursday, “there is a clear desire that this happens, but there has been no decision on a date.”

Separately, Bolsonaro met with the head of the World Trade Organization, Roberto Azevedo, who said the government’s sharp rebukes of globalism were shared by many other countries and that the trade body was making changes.

On Wednesday, Brazil’s new Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo said that underwatch the country would fight for change at multilateral institutions like the WTO.
Araujo’s words were not a threat, Azevedo said.

“To the contrary, I think it was very propitious and compatible with what is happening,” he said after meeting Bolsonaro. “The World Trade Organization itself is beginning the process of reforms.”

Top Comments

Disclaimer & comment rules
  • :o))

    REF: “US military base in Brazil”:

    The Base PRIMARILY is for the protection of Brazil; so it's obvious that Brazil MUST cough-up the necessary dough for its establishment, maintenance, etc.

    SECONDARILY - and also obviously - The South America NEEDS the direct liaison, transport, etc. facilities to quickly export - in response to the growing demands by the BIGGEST IMPORTER of drugs.

    Obviously, The Base is THE Topmost-Priority Of Course!

    Jan 05th, 2019 - 10:22 am 0
  • Chicureo

    It really wouldn't make much sense unless Trump was planning on eventually invading Venezuela, but he's not that crazy. Maybe instead it could be for protecting a group of luxury Trump resorts, but it seems overkill.
    In the end, the announcement will certainly trigger some social justice warriors.

    Jan 05th, 2019 - 11:20 am 0
  • DemonTree

    “the president wants to move Brazil’s embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, but that logistical considerations were standing in the way.”

    Lol, yes, 2,000,000 tonnes of halal meat is quite a logistical consideration.

    @Chicureo
    Didn't Obama build a military base in Chile? I wonder if they have their eye on your bit of Antarctica? With global warming it might become increasingly accessible, and it's a whole unexplored continent full of minerals and oil.

    Jan 05th, 2019 - 12:26 pm 0
Read all comments

Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!