In what was the most controversial issue of the visit, President Obama said he's ready to help Chile solve human rights crimes committed during the dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet, but avoided agreeing Monday to a US apology for meddling in the country's affairs.
Visiting President Barack Obama called in Chile for a new era of partnership with Latin America as he acknowledged a sometimes troubled past between Washington and its neighbours in the region.
Addressing the Brazilian Industry Federation, in Brasilia President Barack Obama emphasized the possibilities for partnership between the two countries mentioning trade, energy, infrastructure and education. The US leader said that “the future has arrived in Brazil” and promised the US would deal with the country in the same way it does with China and India.
US President Barack Obama heralded Brazil's extraordinary rise on the world stage but stopped short of backing its bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
Brazil’s Foreign Affairs minister Antonio Patriota said that the visit of US president Barack Obama represents a significant reset in bilateral relations. What Brazil wants, declared the minister, ‘is to be treated as an equal, in a more seamless relationship without confrontations’.
US ambassador in Brazil Thomas Shannon downplayed differences between Washington and Brasilia saying that coincidences are far greater and will be the core of discussions during the coming visit of US president Barack Obama next week end.
US State Department spokesman PJ Crowley resigned after reports that he labelled as stupid and ridiculous the Pentagon's treatment of a US soldier accused of leaking secret documents that appeared on the WikiLeaks website.
A new delicate situation has emerged for Argentina’s Foreign Affairs minister Hector Timerman after a judge decided to file the case involving the seizing of allegedly “sensitive material” from a US Air Force aircraft that landed in Buenos Aires main airport last month.
Stock markets have fallen after figures showed the US trade deficit had widened much more than expected in January. The US Commerce Department said the deficit had widened to 46.3 billion US dollars from 40.3 billion USD in December.
President Barack Obama will nominate Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, who this year criticized China for not opening its markets, as next US ambassador to Beijing, two administration officials said.