Title: Bolsonaro declares his solidarity with Russia as the ice grows with the United States
Tail: Russia and Brazil
Date: February 16, 2022
Author: IACOPO LUZI
Location: Washington, DC
Video Source: VOA, REUTERS, AP, AFP, STORYBLOCKS
Duration: 02:16
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President Jair Bolsonaro traveled to Russia in search of new allies, despite the fact that US diplomats asked the Brazilian president to abandon the trip due to the tense situation in Ukraine. Iacopo Luzzi tells us that Brasilia’s relationship with the White House is experiencing a moment of estrangement.
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((the writer))
Although a Russian invasion of Ukraine is still a possibility, President Vladimir Putin is once again looking to Latin America to make new friends. Especially with a regional giant like Brazil.
And on Wednesday, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro resisted calls from US officials to cancel his trip and sat alongside Putin in the Kremlin. The Russian president described Brazil as Russia’s most important partner in Latin America. Bolsonaro declared that Brazil is in “solidarity” with Russia.
((SOT: Jair Bolsonaro, President of Brazil))
(Inge: “We are in solidarity with Russia, we have a lot to cooperate on, in several areas, defense, oil and gas, agriculture, meetings are underway”).
Eng: “We are in solidarity with Russia, we have a lot to cooperate with, in various fields, defense, oil and gas, agriculture, meetings are underway.”
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Bolsonaro did not specify the meaning of Brazil’s solidarity with Russia, but according to analysts, his comments and his visit to Putin will certainly be interpreted as tacit support for Moscow in the Ukraine crisis.
((Voice NAT))
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During Trump’s presidency, the United States and Brazil reached their closest relationship in decades. But when President Biden arrived at the White House, a new phase began, after Bolsonaro publicly questioned whether Biden had won the 2020 election. The two presidents did not meet or speak on the phone, despite Bolsonaro’s requests.
Faced with this coldness in bilateral relations, the Brazilian president decided in December to accept Putin’s invitation to Moscow. The White House was not pleased. Indeed, senior officials said the visit came at an inopportune time and gave Putin legitimacy.
((SOT: Vladimir Putin, President of Russia))
((ENG: “Our enterprise is ready to participate in the construction of new power units on the territory of Brazil, including low-power, ground and floating stations.”))
ESP: “Our enterprise is ready to participate in the construction of new power units on the territory of Brazil, including low-power, ground and floating plants.”
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The meeting reflected Putin’s apparent maneuver to circumvent Western attempts to isolate Russia with stronger ties in Latin America, far from its traditional sphere of influence. In recent weeks Putin has made calls to several Latin American leaders and also received Argentine President Alberto Fernandez at the Kremlin.
Iacopo Luzi, Voice of America.
