Brazil, USA sign agreement that facilitates military exchange between the two countries
The defense agreement allows “to reduce bureaucratic processes” between the two countries
President Jair Bolsonaro signed this Sunday (8), in Miami , a bilateral defense agreement, which seeks to “improve or provide new military capabilities”. The agreement that directs United States military operations in the Caribbean, Central and South America was signed without statements to the press.
The signing took place a day after U.S. President Donald Trump received Bolsonaro at his residence and Mar-a-Lago golf club in Palm Beach, near Miami.
After Saturday night’s meeting, the two leaders discussed the Venezuelan crisis and reiterated their support for the opposition leader, Juan Guaidó , whom they recognize as Venezuela’s interim president . Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
The defense agreement allows “to reduce bureaucratic processes in the trade of military products” in both countries. It also opens the market from the United States to Brazil and facilitates the entry of Brazilian products in 28 other member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization ( NATO ), a multilateral defense alliance.
Brazil is not a member, but has been designated by the United States as a “preferred extra-NATO ally”.
In March last year, the two presidents signed a technological safeguards agreement that allows the use of the Alcântara base, in Maranhão, to launch American rockets.
Pressure in Venezuela
USA and Brazil promote pressure measures against the Venezuelan government. Both are part of the 50 or so countries that consider President Nicolás Maduro illegitimate and recognize opposition leader Juan Guaidó as interim president.
Trump and Bolsonaro “reiterated their countries’ support for democracy in the region, including Venezuela’s incumbent president, Juan Guaidó, and the democratically elected Venezuelan National Assembly in their work to restore constitutional order in Venezuela,” the Brazilian government said in a statement.
In short statements to the press, Trump praised the Brazilian.
“He’s doing a fantastic job. Great job. Brazil loves him, and the USA loves him,” Trump told reporters after dinner. Bolsonaro, who recognizes himself as a great admirer of the American counterpart, did not give statements to the press.
On Thursday, the Brazilian government ordered the withdrawal of all its diplomats and foreign service officials from Venezuela and asked Maduro to withdraw theirs from Brazilian territory. In Caracas, the Venezuelan ruler on Friday denounced an alleged US plan to unleash a conflict that would justify military intervention in Venezuela with the help of neighbors Colombia and Brazil.
– A plan to bring the war to Venezuela has been decided by the White House. Jair Bolsonaro was called to the Donald Trump mansion in Miami, the only subject: pushing Brazil into an armed conflict with Venezuela; it is the only issue he has with Jair Bolsonaro and, from Venezuela, we denounce – said Maduro at the presidential palace in Miraflores.