Politics

What to take from the Bolsonaro-Trump meeting

What to take from the Bolsonaro-Trump meeting
Jair Bolsonaro (L) and Donald Trump in the Rose Garden

Ever since he won the presidential election, in October 2018, Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro was unambiguous about what kind of relationship he wanted to have with the U.S. He and his sons have been admirers of U.S. President Donald Trump, and don’t see Beijing with kind eyes. So in his first bilateral visit, Mr. Bolsonaro broke a long tradition—according to which Brazilian presidents debut on the international scene by heading to Buenos Aires—and chose Washington as his first destination.

The Brazilian president took some of his highest-profile cabinet members, such as Economy Minister Paulo Guedes, and Agriculture Minister Tereza Cristina. Their job was trying to create a friendlier environment for trade. But as Trump’s U.S. has grown increasingly protectionist, the Bolsonaro-Trump meeting was timid in economic results. Instead, it served more as a beacon of a new era of political rapprochement between the Americas’ two largest democracies.

“The most important element of this trip is that Brazil is seeking legitimacy for its new foreign policy. In this way, visiting Donald Trump helps the narrative. It’s more about Mr. Bolsonaro’s politics than about the interests of the country or of Brazilian trade,” said political analyst Rafael Cortez, from consultancy firm Tendências.

Wait and see

While both presidents highlighted the need for cooperation, it will take time to see if the economic issues...

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