Brazil’s Foreign Minister is more Bolsonarista than the president himself

Ernesto Araújo came on the scene as an unknown quantity in 2018, but is now a leading figure in Brazil's global crusade against the left-wing

Anti-globalist, anti-China: Brazil's Foreign Minister Ernesto Araújo. Photo: Carolina Antunes/PR — Anti-globalist, anti-China: Brazil’s Foreign Minister Ernesto Araújo. Photo: Carolina Antunes/PR

Jun 03, 2020 15:49 6 min read

When entering the world of diplomacy as a fresh-faced graduate in 1991, Ernesto Araújo could never have dreamed of one day making his way to the top of the chain and leading Brazil’s Foreign Affairs Ministry. In November 2018, after a little over two decades flying under the radar, holding middling offices within Brazil’s diplomatic structure, newly elected President Jair Bolsonaro made the surprising announcement that the “brilliant intellectual” Mr. Araújo would be his new foreign minister.

Despite never commanding an embassy or even gathering the respect of his diplomatic peers, Ernesto Araújo was suddenly parachuted into Brazil’s Foreign...

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Brazil’s Foreign Minister is more Bolsonarista than the president himself

Ernesto Araújo came on the scene as an unknown quantity in 2018, but is now a leading figure in Brazil's global crusade against the left-wing

Access all of The Brazilian Report

Start your 7-day free trial.

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