Bolsonaro touts 'changed', U.S.-friendly Brazil to Washington

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

MARCH 18, 2019 / 9:41 AM / UPDATED 2 HOURS AGO

Lisandra Paraguassu, Alexandra Alper
5 MIN READ

By Lisandra Paraguassu and Alexandra Alper


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Far-right Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, on his first official visit to Washington, declared himself an unabashed admirer of the United States and said he was seeking a new era of close relations after what he called decades of anti-American leaders.

The day before he is due to meet like-minded populist President Donald Trump at the White House, Bolsonaro told business leaders he would like to partner more with the United States. Brazil had changed, he said.

. . .

An outspoken Trump admirer, Bolsonaro took power in January, vowing to realign Brazil with more advanced economies, particularly the United States. That represents a change in diplomatic priorities after over a decade of leftist party rule that had seen Brazil forging closer ties with regional allies.

Brazilian Economy Minister Paulo Guedes echoed Bolsonaro’s message of friendship towards the United States but reminded the audience that China, Brazil’s top trading partner, would be there to pick up the slack if America did not open itself to more trade with Brazil.

Read more: https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-usa-brazil/bolsonaro-touts-changed-u-s-friendly-brazil-to-washington-idUKKCN1QZ1QL?rpc=401&

[sandensea]

1. Translation: 'The day you invade Venezuela, I'll put Brazilian boots on the ground for you baby'

Trump's desperate, and is hoping a war will save him.

Bolsonazi, of course, knows this, and is hoping that playing into that will mean riches for him and his entourage.

But Brazil itself? They can ask their neighbors in Argentina how having a Cheney cheerleader is working out for them.

[Judi Lynn]

2. That's chilling and horrendous. A person couldn't have put it better than you did.

Pretty crazy realizing that IS what's happening, without the consent of the people of both countries, and not meant to "help the people of Venezuela" in any sense at all, not even close.

Treacherous, power-mad idiots. They are NOT anyone's leaders.

Thank you for your input, sandensea. There is no doubt whatsoever that's the intention.

[sandensea]

7. Well, thank you Judi. It is what it is.

I just hope cooler - and above all, decent - heads can prevail before Cheeto's itchy war finger gets us in another Bush-style disaster.

Problem is, that one made so much money for certain people - and as you know, they were never held accountable in the least.

[Judi Lynn]

3. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro Visited the CIA During His Trip to the U.S.

BY BEN FOX / AP 10:19 PM EDT

(WASHINGTON) — The president of Brazil made an unusual visit to CIA headquarters Monday and later spoke of his admiration for the United States on the second day of a trip that reflected his country’s shift to a more pro-American stance.

President Jair Bolsonaro, a far-right politician who succeeded a leftist who at times had a frosty relationship with the United States, arrived in the country with a half a dozen ministers and a goal of expanding trade and diplomatic cooperation between the two largest economies in the Western Hemisphere.

He was expected to meet Tuesday with President Donald Trump to discuss a range of issues, including ways to increase U.S. private-sector investment in Brazil and efforts to resolve the political crisis in Venezuela.

. . .

Eduardo Bolsonaro described the CIA as “one of the most respected intelligence agencies in the world,” in a tweet that was likely to raise eyebrows back home in Brazil, where the U.S. and its spy services have been regarded with suspicion in recent years.

More:
http://time.com/5553999/brazil-president-jair-bolsonaro-cia/

[Judi Lynn]

5. 'One of the World's Most Respected Intelligence Agencies': Bolsonaro's Bring-Your-Son-to-the-CIA Day

Published on
Monday, March 18, 2019
by Common Dreams

'One of the World's Most Respected Intelligence Agencies': Bolsonaro's Bring-Your-Son-to-the-CIA Day

"This is the perfect symbol for Latin America's far right, which has for decades drowned the left in blood thanks to the help of its CIA benefactor."

by Jessica Corbett, staff writer

Nearly 55 years after the CIA backed a coup d'état that overthrew Brazil's democratically-elected government, the nation's right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro raised eyebrows on Monday with an unusual and unannounced trip to the spy agency's U.S. headquarters.

Bolsonaro is officially in town to meet with President Donald Trump on Tuesday, the Brazilian's first bilateral meeting with a head of state since taking office in January. His visit to CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia was revealed by his son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, in a tweet on Monday morning.

Eduardo, who is a member of Brazil's congress and accompanied his father on the visit, said in Portuguese: "Going now with the PR @jairbolsonaroe ministers to the CIA, one of the world's most respected intelligence agencies. It will be an excellent opportunity to talk about international issues in the region with technicians and experts of the highest caliber."

As Reuters reported:

The visit underscored Bolsonaro's embrace of U.S. influence in Latin America to confront what he calls a communist threat against democracy—a theme he remarked on during a dinner on Sunday evening with his ministers and right-wing thinkers.

More:
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/03/18/one-worlds-most-respected-intelligence-agencies-bolsonaros-bring-your-son-cia-day

[Judi Lynn]

9. Brazil's far-right president visited the CIA on his first US visit, and his son revealed it in a twe

Associated Press 13m



Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro at Planalto Palace in Brasilia, March 8, 2019. Reuters

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is on his first visit to the US this week.

The three-day trip was planned within weeks of Bolsonaro taking office on January 1
.

The trip included a trip to CIA headquarters that was supposed to be secret, until Bolsonaro's son tweeted about it.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro visited the CIA on Monday as he sought support from the Trump administration for his security agenda on his first official trip to Washington.

More:
https://www.businessinsider.com/brazils-far-right-president-visits-cia-on-first-us-visit-2019-3

[Judi Lynn]

4. Brazil's pres Bolsonaro, wooing Trump, opens base to US rockets

Last update: 19/03/2019

WASHINGTON, March 19 (BERNAMA-NNN-AGENCIES) – Brazil’s new president, Jair Bolsonaro, signed a deal Monday to open a base to US satellite launches as he appealed for warm relations with Donald Trump on a visit to Washington.

The outspoken conservative, who will meet Trump at the White House on Tuesday, has ideological affinities with the US leader and has broken Brazilian precedent by heading to Washington, not Argentina, for his first official trip abroad.

Promoting a business-friendly approach after more than a decade of socialist presidents, Bolsonaro signed an agreement with US companies on technical safeguards to allow commercial satellite launches from the Alcantara base in the northern Brazilian state of Maranhao.
.....

http://www.bernama.com/en/world/news.php?id=1706643

(Short article, no more at link.)

[BlueFlorida]

6. All the right-wing dictators

seem to have a natural affinity for each other.

[sandensea]

8. Isn't that the truth.

Welcome to DU, Blue Florida! Hope you enjoy the banter here as much as the rest of us.

You may also enjoy our Latin America forum, where Judi Lynn is our unofficial (but highly knowledgeable) host.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1108

Let me know if I can help out with anything and, again, welcome!

[BlueFlorida]

10. Thak you so much!