Under the presidencies of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff, Brazil set out to distance itself from the influence of the United States while becoming a global economic and diplomatic player. The country spent years constructing a diplomatic agenda with the objective of gaining a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. Through the creation of the BRICS geopolitical bloc (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) and South-South agreements, Brazilian leadership aimed to develop new power dynamics by partnering with rising world powers. It also positioned itself as a relevant actor in conflict resolutions, such as during the crisis between the U.S. and Iran in 2010.

In less than a year in office, President Jair Bolsonaro has dramatically altered the course of the country. He has forged alliances with like-minded leaders of the United States, Italy, Israel, Hungary, and Saudi Arabia. He has also distanced Brazil from global multilateral organizations and previously negotiated alliances. At the same time, he has adopted a logic dictated by religious values, moving away from agendas linked to human rights and inserting the country once again in the orbit of the United States. In doing so, Bolsonaro’s Brazil has committed itself to advancing an international ideological realignment favoring extreme agendas as the president’s “verbal incontinence” costs him more moderate allies.

Full article at Nacla’s website. Date of publication: 21/08/2019.