Good morning! Today, the U.S. pushes for Brazil to take sides in Russia standoff. The decline of paper notes in Brazil. And new traumas created by extreme weather.
Blinken wants “strong response” from Brazil against Russia
In a meeting with Brazilian Foreign Minister Carlos França, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. wants Brazil to step up and put pressure on Russia against taking military action in Ukraine. Per Ned Price, the Department of State’s spokesman, the U.S. discussed “the need for a strong, united response against further Russian aggression against Ukraine.”
Context. The request comes as the U.S. and the European Union hold meetings with Russian interlocutors in Geneva, hoping to stave off a potential invasion of Ukraine. Some 100,000 Russian troops have been spotted at the border.
- Russian diplomacy says invasion is not in its plans, but added that the U.S. would be “playing with fire” if it didn’t move quickly to reduce NATO’s foothold in Eastern Europe.
Sweepstakes. The U.S. has dangled the possibility of Brazil becoming a NATO “global partner” when it wants something from the local government.
- Last year, the White House proposed making Brazil a NATO partner in exchange for excluding...