The U.S. Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Brian Nichols, on Wednesday broke ground on the new building of the U.S. Embassy in Brasília.
“This groundbreaking is an enormously important symbol of our commitment to the relationship that we have with Brazil,” Ambassador Nichols said at a ceremony held outside the embassy. The new embassy and a new consulate in Rio de Janeiro, which is already under construction, together represent a USD 315 million investment. The new embassy is expected to be completed within four to seven years.
Mr. Nichols highlighted that the U.S. is by far the largest investor in Brazil. In 2009, China surpassed the U.S. as Brazil’s largest trading partner.
Ambassador Maria Luisa Escorel de Moraes, Mr. Nichols’s Brazilian counterpart as deputy minister for Europe and North America, said that the U.S. decision to expand its mission “captures the breath of fresh air” in the bilateral relationship. She said that Presidents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Joe Biden made a commitment to relaunching the partnership, based on the “defense of democracy, respect for human rights and the promotion of environmental sustainability.”
U.S. Ambassador Elizabeth Bagley said that “Brazil has been one of our most staunch allies and partners,” reminding those present that next year the two countries will celebrate the bicentennial of their diplomatic relations, although the existence of the U.S. Consulate in Recife predates Brazil’s independence.
Ambassador Bagley added that “we wanted to make sure to honor the legacy of titans in Brazilian design.” The new building’s design will pay homage to Oscar Niemeyer (1907-2012), the architect of Brasília’s most famous public buildings, honoring the country’s modernist legacy.
The project will also restore the original courtyard designed by landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx (1909-1994), the creator of Copacabana Beach’s famous wavy sidewalk and several parks and gardens.
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