The inauguration speech of the new chancellor, Mauro Vieira, reinforces that the main mission of Lula’s Itamaraty 3 is to recover the leading role on the world stage that Brazil had during the president’s first two terms (2003-2010).
But the danger is that the “new” Itamaraty is proposing the same foreign policy that it defended 20 years ago for a reality that today is completely different. Lula’s “soft power” alone and Celso Amorim’s “haughty and active” foreign policy will not be enough for Brazil to regain its leading role in a much more complex multipolar world.
Vieira began his speech with bows to his mentor Amorim, former chancellor and current international adviser, whom he called “one of the greatest diplomats in our history”. He listed as priorities of Lula’s foreign policy 3 all the themes dear to Lula 1 and 2 —reform of the UN Security Council, commitment to integration with countries in Latin America and the Global South, rescue of Unasur (Union of South American Nations ), Celac (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) and even Ibas (Dialogue Forum between India, Brazil and South Africa).
But does alignment with the Global South account for the reality of a much more expansionist and militaristic China? Would it be the right time to prioritize the Brics with Russia, one of its members, involved in a war and threatening the use of nuclear force? Will Ibas remain the same with India led not by Manmonhan Singh, a technocrat with great affinity to Lula, but by an ultra-right leader like Narendra Modi, who uses religion to stir up tensions in the country?
Vieira promises the “ideology of integration” to get closer to Latin American countries. Is this enough to deal with a Venezuela under Nicolás Maduro, with an unprecedented democratic and economic deterioration? How to revive Unasur and revitalize CELAC with figures like the left-wing dictator Daniel Ortega, from Nicaragua, and right-wing authoritarians like Nayib Bukele in El Salvador?
Chancellor Vieira clearly sees the difficult mission of rebuilding Brazil’s diplomatic heritage after Bolsonarist “Christian, white and Western” diplomacy turned Brazil into a global pariah. In fact, this is zero priority.
But we need to move forward.
He himself acknowledged, at the end of his speech, that not only the geopolitical scenario has changed, but the country and the Itamaraty as well.
Her choice to lead the MRE caused frustration among diplomats, who longed for a female chancellor. Vieira waved with the choice of ambassador Maria Laura da Rocha for the general secretary — the first woman to hold the position in 104 years.
Faced with criticism of the lack of policies to ensure more diversity in leadership positions, he promised a policy of inclusion and recruitment of more women and blacks. It is clear that diplomacy carried out by an establishment of white men no longer reflects the reality of Brazilian society.
Vieira also showed that he listened to the criticism of the lack of action in relation to accusations of harassment in his previous administration, by committing to give greater priority to combating cases of harassment, abuse and discrimination, making the Ombudsman and Internal Affairs of the Foreign Service report directly to the General Secretariat for Foreign Affairs.
He also indicated structural changes in the ministry, with the creation —or recreation— of secretariats to take care of climate change, technology, regional integration, Africa, attention to Brazilian communities abroad, diversity and social participation.
And having the environmental foreign policy as the new guideline, the emphasis on cooperation between the Amazonian countries, the fight against hunger and the strengthening of the links in the global food supply chain are very welcome goals and in tune with current challenges.
That’s right, we are light years away from Ernesto Araújo, who in his inaugural speech in 2019 cited 14 times the fight against “global order” and “globalism”, included the Hail Mary in Tupi and long stretches in Greek. But rebuilding will not be enough, because the world has not stood still. It will be necessary to update the successful diplomacy of Lula 1 and 2 for the new world that Lula 3 will find.
With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
