Brazil’s ambassador to the United States, Nestor Forster, released a photo on Friday night (8) with President Joe Biden. It is the first time that the American leader, who took office at the beginning of last year, appears alongside a Brazilian official in the White House.
According to Forster’s post, the visit took place last Monday (4).
“On April 4th, I had the honor of visiting President Biden at the White House and conveying to him the President’s best wishes. [Jair] Bolsonaro and his appreciation for the friendship between our countries,” the ambassador wrote. “Founded on a long-term view, the partnership that unites Brazil and the US is beneficial to both.”
The text does not detail what was discussed in the conversation. wanted by sheet to comment on the meeting, the Brazilian embassy in Washington replied that, for the time being, there is no other information available about the meeting.
The White House also did not release information. The meeting was not on Biden’s public agenda on the 4th.
The American took office in January 2021 and, since then, has not had any bilateral conversations with Bolsonaro. Despite this, there were several conversations between Brazilian ministers and their Washington counterparts. National Security Adviser John Sullivan even traveled to BrasÃlia and met with the Brazilian president at the Planalto Palace.
Bolsonaro sought to align himself with Donald Trump, who sought re-election and was defeated by the Democrat in the 2020 elections. never proven.
Since then, the relationship has had moments of rapprochement and exchanges of barbs. The American, for example, invited Brazil to participate in summits on the environment – ​​a topic on which Bolsonaro himself has publicly expressed differences with Biden – and on democracy – a subject of repeated criticism from congressmen in Washington in relation to the Brazilian. .
This year, a source of tension was Bolsonaro’s trip to Russia, which took place amid tension with Ukraine, which would later lead to war. On February 16, the Brazilian met with Putin and said he was “in solidarity” with Moscow, without specifying in what aspect he expressed solidarity.
The next day, the State Department commented harshly on the statement. “The moment when the president of Brazil expressed solidarity with Russia, just as Russian forces are preparing to launch attacks on Ukrainian cities, could not be worse,” said a spokesman for the ministry. “This undermines international diplomacy aimed at averting a strategic and humanitarian disaster.”
Soon after, it was the turn of White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki to speak. “I would say that the vast majority of the global community is united in their view that another country taking part of their land, terrorizing their people, is certainly something not in line with global values. So I think Brazil may be on the other side in that the majority of the global community is.”
A few weeks later, however, the Biden administration rehearsed nods to Brazil, praising the country’s stance in the Security Council and the UN Human Rights Council. Brazilian diplomats voted in favor of resolutions condemning Russia for the invasion of Ukraine.
“Every vote to hold the Kremlin accountable for these horrible actions matters. The US is proud to stand by Brazil’s side in defending the human rights of everyone in Ukraine,” posted Brian Nichols, Assistant Secretary for the Western Hemisphere at the State Department. at the beginning of March.
Days before leaving for Moscow, in a meeting with Peruvian Pedro Castillo, Bolsonaro said he was willing to meet with Biden. “Brazil is Brazil, Russia is Russia. I make relationships with the whole world. As if Joe Biden invites me, I will be in the USA with the greatest pleasure”, he stated.
