A Brazilian ambassador who had recently landed in Europe followed diplomatic protocol and contacted his counterparts in the same capital after assuming the new post. The aim was to introduce oneself and initiate a dialogue with the aim of defending Brazilian positions on different foreign policy issues.
But, surprisingly, he received the polite warning from different governments: yes, we want dialogue with Brazil. But unfortunately the agenda is full. Shall we talk again in October?
The reality of Brazil’s ambassador to Europe is not an isolated case. The experience is replicated in different negotiations and different contacts with diplomats around the world, especially in democracies.
Without making such a stance public, the governments expect the political definition of the country to turn into negotiation issues of mutual interest. Sources at Itamaraty point out that resistance to sticking to the regular schedule came first and foremost from Europeans.
According to sources in foreign ministries and international organizations, figuring out who will win the election is not just a matter of stalling. But if there really is an October election.
“Obviously, the urgent remains to be addressed. But in many cases there is a freeze on the foreign agenda,” said a Brazilian diplomat in Latin America.
When contacted, Itamaraty did not respond to the report that neither the ambassadors were hosted nor the freezing of the bilateral agenda, especially in Western countries.
But negotiators in the US have revealed that the Joe Biden administration is under strong pressure from grassroots lawmakers who want the White House to take a tougher stance against the Jair Bolsonaro government. Brazilian organizations with American lawmakers stress that it is pointless for them to investigate Donald Trump and the far-right’s involvement in the invasion of the Capitol last year, while maintaining a close relationship with Bolsonaro at the same time.
The European Commission is already experiencing a potential crisis. A sort of update of the terms of the agreement between Mercosur and the European Union is scheduled to be published in September.
But domestic fear in the bloc will be seen as a tool of support for President Jair Bolsonaro if the new document is in Brazil’s interests or is too soft on environmental requirements.
In the European bloc, as in France, there is no shortage of national governments asking for any negotiations or new documents on the deal to be delayed until 2023.
But a second group fears that with the eventual victory of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the agreement signed between the two blocs in 2019 will be reopened for a new negotiation. An industry assessment close to the ex-president that Brazil negotiated was insufficient.
Europe also has lobbying by the governments of Hungary and Poland, which are eager to help Bolsonaro get reelected.
The same resistance to Brazilian ambassadors is not found in dictatorships or governments, such as Russia, that seek to deepen new partnerships to circumvent sanctions imposed by Americans and Europeans.
In Africa, this phenomenon has been circumvented as Brazil continues the technical cooperation projects developed by the Brazilian Cooperation Agency in recent years, albeit on a smaller scale.
Diplomats in the region believe that relations will not be frozen as in Europe. But many agree that if Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is elected, “a natural sympathy should continue” for Brazil in the region.
Despite enthusiasm among Africans about the possible end of Bolsonaro’s government, observers warn that the scenario of stabilization and boom in commodities benefited by Celso Amorim’s rule in Itamaraty is unlikely to be repeated in the coming years.
This could jeopardize Brazil’s strong return for projects, including those funded by BNDES.
source: Noticias
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