Under the government of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Brazil will design a new geography of international alliances. Those responsible for the new foreign policy on issues such as climate, human rights and integration are already preparing for a radical transformation of Brazil’s international engagement, burying some of the main initiatives of the far right.
One of the most anticipated announcements should be the creation of a bloc with Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of Congo to strengthen the defenses of the forests. Together, the three countries account for 52% of the world’s major tropical forests. The aim will be to show commitment to the fight against deforestation, but also to press for a counterpart from the rich countries. In practice, the possibility of other governments joining the initiative, which will move Brazil away from a bloc of countries that are hesitant to deal with environmental problems, cannot be ruled out.
What the Lula government is doing is by demonstrating a new alliance, accrediting itself to the international debate and trying to maintain Brazil’s leading role in other fields. However, the assessment among foreign policy makers is that the country will regain its credibility with the forest problem. Therefore, alliance with other emerging countries will be a tool in this direction.
Another initiative should be the sewing of a new relationship with Latin America, including on environmental protection themes. Colombian President Gustavo Petro hinted at the possibility of a meeting with Lula in the next few days, during their break in Cape Verde, which they both will take until they arrive at the Climate Summit in Egypt.
In practice, Brazil takes on the idea of Unasur and once and for all bury at the meeting all initiatives set up by right-wing governments that are seen as platforms to advance Donald Trump’s projects.
Buried is also the sign of a possible resumption of the Lima Group, an alliance formed in the region to put pressure on the Nicolas Maduro regime in Venezuela. The bloc had already collapsed with the victory of other progressive governments in the region. But the end of Bolsonaro’s rule is putting the final nail in the coffin, diplomats say.
Brazil has yet to break away from the ultra-conservative alliance that has sought to change the international human rights agenda and propose restrictions on reproductive and sexual rights in recent years.
The initiative will follow the path followed by the government of Gustavo Petro, who left the group after assuming the Colombian presidency. Joe Biden, on his first day in office, also announced the immediate withdrawal of the United States from the alliance.
The alliance was formed by the governments of Donald Trump and Jair Bolsonaro, by Damares Alves, then-Minister for Human Rights, and then Chancellor Ernesto Araújo. The group’s aim, called the Geneva Consensus, was to prevent and even disseminate any reference to reproductive rights and access to sexual health for girls and women in international organizations.
Officially, the aim was to counter the alleged agenda of international organizations to promote abortion. Insistence in organizations like the WHO and other UN agencies is to defend women’s lives, decriminalize acts and respect national constitutions, not abortion.
But the alliance has brought together governments with bad results in terms of defending women, including Saudi Arabia or Bahrain. The bloc still has far-right governments from Hungary and Poland.
Defeated in the polls, members of the Donald Trump administration continued activism to maintain the group’s existence. Under-Secretary for Family Affairs Valerie Huber has become a constant figure in debates between parties and far-right movements around the world.
But before he resigned, he emailed his supporters around the world to urge that the agenda not be abandoned, advising everyone to contact the Brazilian embassy in Washington, which will serve as the alliance’s focal point.
Not coincidentally, news of a possible departure from Brazil has members of the alliance worried about the group’s ability to maintain its relevance. For the diplomats of the accord, using Itamaraty’s professionalism to promote ultra-conservative agendas made a real impact.
In addition, the bloc had the parallel diplomacy of Bolsonarists who traveled the world to promote the agenda. Family secretary Ângela Gandra, in the portfolio led by Damares Alves, also served as a bridge between ultra-conservative groups in different countries and the Bolsonaro government.
At the UN, Lula’s victory was celebrated as a sign that the agenda that seeks to undermine fundamental rights will weaken. Last week, the organisation’s rapporteurs published an open letter in which they envisioned the following:
Camilla Asano, executive director of Conectas Human Rights, also advocates for Brazil’s repositioning. “One of the key points with a change of government is for Brazil to regain its position of respect and consistency at the international level,” she said.
Recalling that both the Constitution and Lula’s election campaign focused on human rights, he argues that the new government should “correctly review the foreign policy actions that have placed Brazil in such an isolated and prestigeous position”.
According to Camila Asano, one of them is the Geneva Consensus. “This represents an alliance of far-right governments, and other democratic governments that have replaced these extremist leaders have already withdrawn,” he said, referring to the presidents of the United States and Colombia.
“It is natural to expect an immediate review from this government, which took over in January on joining alliances formed as a way of expressing the far right and regaining prestige and international respect. It is a remarkable point in Brazilian history and has suffered in recent years,” he added.
source: Noticias
