Table of Contents
- 0.1 Business with the USA, trade with China, good relations with Russia
- 0.2 Ammunition for Ukraine? “Brazil is a country of peace.”
- 0.3 Lula and the Argentine head of state Milei successfully avoid each other
- 1 Guest 1: The shift in leadership has certainly redefined Brazil’s foreign policy. Lula’s administration, with its emphasis on diplomacy and cooperation, aims to strengthen Brazil’s ties with other nations, particularly in the Global South. In contrast, Bolsonaro’s outward-focused approach often prioritized economic interests over diplomatic relationships. This oscillation has created a complex dynamic for Brazil’s international presence, making it imperative that the nation finds a consistent and stable approach moving forward.
It is quite possible that there are places in the world that are better suited for an international summit than Rio de Janeiro: the city’s geography is too confusing, the temperatures are too humid and hot, and the crime rate is too high. On the other hand, there are also the beautiful beaches, the forested hills, the Sugar Loaf Rock and the statue of Christ spreading its arms over the city: what a backdrop!
The G-20 summit will take place in front of it on Monday and Tuesday: heads of state and politicians from the most important industrialized and emerging countries meet to talk about the world and its problems. There are certainly more than enough of them at the moment: climate crisis, Middle East conflict and Russia’s war in Ukraine. And while democratic values are losing weight, autocrats are on the rise.
Business with the USA, trade with China, good relations with Russia
It is precisely in these difficult times that Brazil is entitled to host the G-20 meeting, a country that is more concerned with harmony and balance in the world than almost any other and whose foreign policy to date can probably best be summarized under the motto: We can with everyone. This samba diplomacy has been extremely successful for decades: now a step to one side, then to the other, and never forgetting to smile through it all. But now, in view of an increasingly polarized world, the question arises as to what this strategy can achieve.
It is not as if Brazil has no weight in the world: with around 215 million inhabitants, the country is by far the most populous nation in Latin America and at the same time the most important economic power in the region. This has led to Brazilian self-confidence growing over the past decades and with it the desire to gain more influence globally.
At the beginning of the 2000s, the government in the capital Brasília began to make efforts to host major international events: the 2014 Football World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. At the same time, the country became increasingly involved in international discussions, for example when it came to: to expand the UN Security Council. And Brazil forged new alliances, above all Brics, an alliance of states founded in 2009 together with Russia, India and China and later expanded to include South Africa.
Brazil saw itself as a mediator between the global south, the aspiring emerging countries and the rich western industrialized countries. A very comfortable situation: While they continued to do business with the USA, they massively expanded trade with China and also maintained good relations with Russia.
Ammunition for Ukraine? “Brazil is a country of peace.”
One man in particular became the face of this new, confident and independent Brazil: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the country’s former and current president. In 2002, the now 79-year-old won the elections for the first time. Shortly thereafter, raw material prices on the world markets began to climb to new heights, and money started gushing into the Brazilian treasury. Lula was celebrated: in 2009, then US President Barack Obama even described him as “the most popular politician in the world”.
But then a sudden downturn followed: Lula was charged with money laundering and corruption in 2017 and sentenced to twelve years in prison. The verdict was highly controversial and was ultimately overturned. However, it was already too late: instead of Lula, the right-wing extremist Jair Bolsonaro won the 2018 elections.
Under his presidency, Brazil sank into insignificance in foreign policy, and that only changed again when Lula won the elections again in 2022. Before he had even taken office, he declared loudly: “Brazil is back!” But the applause he initially received has now given way to shrugging of the shoulders or even shaking of the head.
At the beginning of 2023, for example, shortly after Lula took office, Chancellor Olaf Scholz traveled to Brazil with hope. “You were missing,” he explained to his “dear Lula.” But when it came to ammunition deliveries to Ukraine, the South American head of state explained: “Brazil is a country of peace,” which is why they don’t want any involvement in the war, “not even indirectly.” For President Lula, this was the logical continuation of the foreign policy that his country has been pursuing for decades. But for the German government it was a bitter rebuff.
Lula and the Argentine head of state Milei successfully avoid each other
In a world that is becoming increasingly polarized, Brazil’s claim to get along with everyone and everything is often reaching its limits. You can see this, for example, in the Brics community of states: This was recently expanded and new members include Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia and Iran. Some have long seen this “Brics+” as an anti-Western alliance, a club of autocrats and de-facto dictators – and in the middle of it all is Brazil, a country that was actually proud of having left military rule behind in the 1980s and today to be the largest democracy in South America.
For President Lula, that much is clear, the G-20 summit will be a test of strength. After all, Vladimir Putin has already declared that he does not want to take part in the meeting, which saves Brazil from having to decide whether it wants to execute the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against Russia’s president.
There will still be unpleasant moments, with Argentina’s right-wing libertarian head of state Javier Milei, for example: He had described Lula as a “corrupt communist” in the past and the two have successfully avoided each other since the Argentine took office about a year ago. This will not be possible in Rio, and the mood is tense: the Argentine delegation is said to have tried to remove the discussion about a special tax for the super-rich from the summit agenda – although this, along with the fight against poverty and hunger, is one of the main concerns by President Lula.
In addition to disagreements, uncertainty will also dominate the meeting. US President Joe Biden is traveling, but as a “lame duck”. In the USA, this is what a president is called whose days are numbered because of an election defeat and who therefore has hardly any decision-making power. And the German Chancellor also comes in a weakened position: who knows what will happen in the new elections at the beginning of next year.
It is more than uncertain whether there will be any useful results at the end of the G-20 meeting. Only one thing is certain: the obligatory summit photo, perhaps even taken on one of Rio de Janeiro’s beaches, with the city’s forested hills or Sugar Loaf Rock in the background. What a backdrop!
Guest 1: The shift in leadership has certainly redefined Brazil’s foreign policy. Lula’s administration, with its emphasis on diplomacy and cooperation, aims to strengthen Brazil’s ties with other nations, particularly in the Global South. In contrast, Bolsonaro’s outward-focused approach often prioritized economic interests over diplomatic relationships. This oscillation has created a complex dynamic for Brazil’s international presence, making it imperative that the nation finds a consistent and stable approach moving forward.
I’m glad you could make it to our website today! As the official website editor for World-Today-News.com, I would be delighted to assist you with your interview for today’s topic.
Interview with 2 guests about the informations provided in the article “G-20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro: Brazil’s Diplomatic Balancing Act”:
Guest 1: Professor of Political Science at a Brazilian University
Guest 2: International Business Consultant who has worked extensively with the G-20 summit host countries
Section 1: Evaluation of Rio de Janeiro as a fitting venue for the G-20 summit
Host: Good day, Professor. It’s great to have you here. Professor, what do you think about the fact that Rio de Janeiro is hosting the G-20 summit this year? Do you think the city is the best choice?
Guest 1: Thank you, it’s a pleasure to be here. Rio de Janeiro is a beautiful city, but geography, temperature, and crime rates are significant challenges. However, the city’s stunning landmarks, such as Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf Rock, offer an unparalleled backdrop for international diplomacy. But that doesn’t necessarily make it an ideal location for the G-20 summit.
Host: Interesting point. Ms. Consultant, as someone who has worked with G-20 host countries, what are your thoughts on Rio de Janeiro as a venue for this summit?
Guest 2: Hello, thank you for inviting me. Well, Rio is known for its lively atmosphere and rich history, which could be an asset during the summit. However, its geography and safety issues are valid concerns. Although Rio has made significant strides in improving security in recent years, there’s still much to be done to ensure a secure environment for the world leaders attending the event.
Section 2: Brazil’s current foreign policy and its approach to world issues
Host: Moving on to Brazil’s foreign policy approach. Brazil underwent significant changes in recent years, with the election of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Jair Bolsonaro. How has this impacted Brazil’s role in the global
