Brazil’s new Foreign Minister Araújo: Brazil–US ties start new phase

Brazil’s newly sworn-in Foreign Minister Ernesto Araújo said today (Jan. 2) that Brazil and the US are beginning a new phase in bilateral relations after a meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo held this morning at the Ministry of Foreign Relations.

“We’re at the beginning of a new stage, which is going to be very productive, I’m sure, in the relations between Brazil and the US. A stage that will see the creation of concrete tools, which will help our economy create more jobs, more business opportunities, more initiatives in every field, benefiting from the work already done, but bringing a much more intense magnitude in our ties,” Araújo said in his first address as chancellor.

“We’ve exchanged ideas about our world views, on how to work together for the good, for a different international order, which lives up to the values of our people.”

When asked about Brazil’s foreign policy, Araújo said that Brazil has been “realigning with itself, with its own ideals, and the Foreign Ministry is realigning with the Brazilian people.” “The new relations with the US come as a result of this internal realignment of Brazil, and with other countries likewise,” he added.

United States

Mike Pompeo said that Donald Trump wants to forge closer ties with the Bolsonaro administration in several fields, including the economic arena. When questioned regarding the criticism made by Trump on “unfair” trade relations between the US and Brazil, Pompeo argued that the US government wants to create opportunities for both nations.

“Sometimes it’s difficult for Americans to make business in Brazil, and it’s sometimes difficult for Brazilians to make business with the US as well,” said the secretary of state, who attended the inauguration ceremony of Bolsonaro yesterday (1).

On October 1, Trump said that Brazil “is among the world’s hardest” in the dealings with foreign companies.

Angola

Before welcoming Pompeo, Araújo met with Angolan Chancellor Manuel Domingos Augusto. Upon leaving the assembly, Augusto said that the economic cooperation between Brazil and Angola is very good, but there is still “much room for progress.”

“We believe that the new Brazil—with the dynamics we plan on introducing—will definitely contribute not just to a more active participation of Brazil in the world, but also to benefiting the Community of Portuguese Language Countries,” said Angolan chancellor.

He also cited joint anti-corruption measures. “The fight against corruption is among the priorities of my government and we have just learned that it is also among the priorities of President Bolsonaro’s president.”

Engagements

Minister Ernesto Araújo will have a busy schedule on his first day in office. In addition to the meetings with the president and international representatives, a number of talks with chancellors and special envoys have been slated.

Araújo will hold talks with the foreign ministers Jacek Caputowicz (Poland) and Maliki Osman (Singapore), in addition to special envoys Jeon Hae-cheol (South Korea), Yasuaki Yamaguchi (Japan), and Omar Alghabra (Canada), as well as Mariam al-Mehairi, food security minister of the United Arab Emirates.

The inauguration ceremony for Brazil’s new foreign minister is slated to start today at 6 pm, at the Ministry of Foreign Relations.