Bolsonaro touts ‘changed’, U.S.-friendly Brazil to Washington

WASHINGTON, - Far-right Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, on his first official visit to Washington, declared himself an unabashed admirer of the United States and said he was seeking a new era of close relations after what he called decades of antiAmerican leaders.

The day before he is due to meet like-minded populist President Donald Trump at the White House, Bolsonaro told business leaders he would like to partner more with the United States. Brazil had changed, he said.

“The American people have always been an inspiration for me,” said Bolsonaro.

“We have good relationships around the world,” he added, “but I am extending my hands so that the relationship with the United States is increasingly more important.”

An outspoken Trump admirer, Bolsonaro took power in January, vowing to realign Brazil with more advanced economies, particularly the United States. That represents a change in diplomatic priorities after over a decade of leftist party rule that had seen Brazil forging closer ties with regional allies.

Brazilian Economy Minister Paulo Guedes echoed Bolsonaro’s message of friendship towards the United States but reminded the audience that China, Brazil’s top trading partner, would be there to pick up the slack if America did not open itself to more trade with Brazil.

“They are moving in, trying to invest,” Guedes said of the Chinese. “And we are looking to our partner and saying ‘look, what should we do?’ The president loves Americans. Me too of course. We love Disneyland and Coca Cola.”