O bilateral relationship between Brazil and the United States It ceased to be a matter of normal negotiation or reasonable conflict to become a situation that requires a defensive posture on the part of Brazil. The analysis is from the political scientist Feliciano de Sá Guimarãesprofessor at the Institute of International Relations at USP (University of São Paulo), participating in the “WW Special” program, from CNNwhich debated the dispute between China and the USA over Brazil and Latin America.
In a scenario in which the economy is growing and the Americans are moving military power to the region, the professor warns that Brasília urgently needs to rethink its foreign policy.
“The Americans pointed it out to us. With this, the country is going through a dangerous phase that requires caution. We are not in a good relationship, nor in a normal relationship. We are in a defense relationship. We have to defend ourselves from American action”, he warned.
For the USP professor, this change of perspective in the United States is driven by at least two major currents. The first is the need to immediately combat Chinese influence. The second is the perception, on the part of the American government, that .
“This combination of factors — American geopolitics and domestic issues — it provides an environment in which the expansion of military power in South America becomes easier for the current government of Donald Trump”, he explained.
If this interpretation is confirmed, the professor points out that the Americans are “flirting with an old Cold War idea called spheres of influence.”
“This concept is very negative for Brazil, as Americans automatically understand the Americas as part of their sphere”, he highlighted.
The political scientist pointed out that, historically, the concept of “flying below the American radar”, a tactic that aimed to avoid problems. However, this strategy is no longer viable, according to the professor.
“We are in a situation where, today, it is practically impossible to fly under the American radar,” he said.
Guimarães also warns that the Trump administration’s recent actions in relation to the Brazilian government appear to be just “tactical resources” rather than fundamental strategic changes.
“The danger lies in a cycle in which the United States attracts Brazil and then attacks Brazil. If this pattern becomes systematic, we will have to rethink the relationship and build a defensive foreign policy in relation to the Americans, as we will be increasingly subject to North American pressure”, he concluded.
WW Especial
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