Despite reluctance with Bolsonaro, Biden sees Brazil as a key player in confrontation with China

It is an open secret that the government of Joe biden has his reluctance towards the Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro. But the last two visits that the head of state received, first that of the director of the CIA William burns then the national security adviser Jake sullivan, highlight the The “key” importance of Brazil in Washington’s geopolitics. Brian winter, vice president of the Americas Society / Council of Americas, confirmed on Twitter: “The Biden government may not like Bolsonaro, but it sees Brazil as a key player in the growing global confrontation with China”.

According to Winter, “Much of Latin America is in crisis and is turning against Washington. Brazil remains an important ally of the United States”. This is what the former US ambassador to Brasilia revealed Todd Crawford Chapman, at the end of this first meeting between Burns and Bolsonaro, on July 1st. The American diplomat, who left the embassy two weeks ago, assured a press conference that “it is important that institutional democracy continues to be very much alive in Brazil. And I am fully convinced that it is a reality ”.

Alberto Fernández had a positive meeting with Joe Biden’s government envoy

On this July tour, Burns was with three generals and a civilian: Walter Braga Netto, Defense Minister ; Augusto Heleno, Institutional security; Luiz Eduardo Ramos, then coordinating minister of the cabinet; and the director of the Brazilian Intelligence Agency, Alexandre ramagem. It was the latter who tweeted at the end of Burns’ tour: “Symbolic visit by the Director General of the CIA demonstrating the growing importance of Brazil on the international scene. Historical and cultural identity of the two Western nations, preserving the fundamental values ​​in the face of representative democracy and the general interest ”.

the The trip of Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser, completed the task started by Burns. He also met with Bolsonaro and the army ministers: Braga Netto and Augusto Heleno; to the admiral Flavio Rocha, Strategic Affairs; and two civilians, the chancellor Carlos Alberto França and Fabio Farias, Minister of Communications. What was the focus of all these meetings? The White House offer to Bolsonaro for Brazil to become a global partner of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Technology and environment: the axes of Massa’s meeting with envoy Biden

What are the advantages of Brazil joining NATO? First, the purchase of sophisticated weapons in the countries of the alliance. Second: the training in special centers of the organization. There is only one Latin American country that is part of NATO: Colombia It is also a global partner. But, in addition, it opens the door for NATO members to intervene in the event that Brazil is faced with an international conflict. In turn, the Brazilian government could be summoned to participate in a critical situation for the countries of the alliance. Of course, Washington’s offer to Brasilia sparked great enthusiasm among Army ministers, as it would convert the The Brazilian armed forces into a true regional military power. But according to the newspaper Newspaper, there would be no unanimity in the ranks of in uniform with more stars on the epaulettes.

It seems that In exchange for NATO, Sullivan asked the Brazilian government to block the participation of the Chinese company Huawei in the tender for the 5G band, which must be convened before the end of the year. The North American argument is that dominance of this gang would give China’s ability to spy on the rest of the world, thus creating a “serious problem” of security. It was no accident that Sullivan brought Tarun Chabra and Amit Mital, senior directors of technology and cyber at the National Security Council, to the summit meeting with the Brazilian government. Biden’s adviser also arrived, along with other frontline White House officials: Juan González, Director of Strategic Affairs for the Western Hemisphere and Ricardo WITHúniga, senior officer of the State Department for the Western Hemisphere.

EG / ED