Brazil Ponders What to Do in Face of Obama and World Crisis

US president Barack Obama The new United States administration and the world economic crisis prompt more questions than answers. This was one of the consensuses reached at the 3rd National Conference on Foreign Policy and International Politics, held this Monday, December 8, in Rio de Janeiro under the theme Brazil in the World that is Coming.

Scholars and diplomats discussed priority issues concerning the international scenario and Brazilian foreign policy in the face of Barack Obama's election to the presidency of the United States. It was also a consensus that the duration and depth of this financial crisis, which originated precisely in the US, is uncertain.

All participants agreed, although not on all points, that the change in the United States government was a positive one and that, with Obama at the helm, it is showing greater willingness to dialogue and strengthen international institutions, and also to adopt a less one-sided, more negotiation-oriented stance.

The Brazilian ambassador to the US, Antonio Patriota, believes that the president-elect is going to be more open to multilateral cooperation with Brazil in some topics that were met with indifference by the current US administration. "Especially in the areas of climate change and fighting poverty," he said.

Obama's statement on the shutting down of Guantanamo was praised by some of the participants, as they believe that it signals that the president-elect is going to show greater respect for international law.

The Professor at the Institute of Advanced Studies at the University of São Paulo (USP), Gilberto Dupas, warned, however, that people should not expect too much from the future US president.

"It is very unlikely that Obama will change the essential logic that underlies the structure of power in the United Sates, the defense and domestic policies. I believe that the expectations surrounding him must be kept in perspective," he asserted.

On the other hand, Dupas believes that the quest for relative consensuses creates a vacuum that enables greater participation to Brazil, which, according to him, has a vocation for bringing about consensus.

To the secretary general at the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Trade, ambassador Pinheiro Guimarães, the current outlook calls for greater articulation between Brazil and the "large developing States, such as China, India and Argentina, among others."

According to him, it is also important for the country to maintain its investment levels and reaffirm the Brazilian industrial potential.

"Industry is crucial, due to the very distribution of the population in Brazil. Around 85% of people live in the cities, and the country cannot base its economic development on agriculture alone. Now is the time for adding value to the Brazilian economy."

ABr

Tags:

You May Also Like

Chevron Joins Petrobras in US$ 5 Billion Brazil Off-Shore Project

Chevron Corporation announced its decision of investing in the development of a project in ...

In 4 Years Brazil Gets Its Old Dream Road from Sea to Shining Sea

The presidents of Peru, Bolivia and Brazil inaugurated a US$ 810 million highway project ...

Brazil’s Oil Production Abroad Grows 8%

Petrobras, Brazilian state-controlled oil multinational, had average international oil and gas production of 218,117 ...

Brazil Learns That Innovation Can Double Small Businesses’ Profit

A study prepared by Sebrae, the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service, in ...

Salvador, Brazil, Welcomes Dancers of the World

Between January 29 and February 1st music and dance teachers of several countries should ...

Brazil’s Petrobras Strikes Gas Off Santos Coast

Brazilian state-controlled oil and gas multinational, Petrobras, announced that the Consortium formed by that ...

Brazil Joins Left Coalition to Create Mercosur Parliament

The creation of a Forum of Progressive Parties of the Southern Cone was the ...

Brazilian Chicken Exports to Middle East Grow 69% to Close to US$ 1 Billion

According to figures disclosed July 14 by the Brazilian Poultry Exporters Association (Abef), the ...

Prospectors Invade Yanomami Land and Brazil Says It Has No Manpower to Remove Them

The presence of prospectors on Yanomami Indian lands in Brazil is an old problem. ...

The Lula Paradox

Eight years ago, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was inaugurated president of Brazil with ...