On New Year’s Day, Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s new neo-conservative President took office. Populist, avowedly anti-Communist, strongly pro-business, and not enamoured with Mercosur, his approach to foreign policy shows every sign of polarising an already divided hemisphere.
He has expressed strongly held views on Venezuela and Cuba, wants to weaken the climate change accord, has said that he will seek a reduction in Chinese influence though investment, and makes clear that he sees Brazil as Washington’s principal strategic partner in the Americas.
His recent talks with the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo and John Bolton, the US National Security Adviser, pave the way for an early invitation to a meeting with President Trump at the White House.
