<b> A atual pouco compreendida política externa brasileira </b> 10.5102/uri.v9i1.1332

Abstract

Instead of taking advantage of increasing Brazilian international projection and involve the country in matters that are relevant for the group of actors in the international system, it seems that the country´s insertion goes confusedly in the opposite direction. Since the beginning of the current decade, Brazil has maintained evident cordiality for the governments of Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia and more recently Iran. As a consequence, Brazil is increasing dialogue with countries and involving itself in themes with a high level of insecurity and uncertainty mainly for the other decision maker actors. In doing so it seems that the Brazilian Diplomacy is suffering of an identity crisis. These examples when are taken individually give a certain impression and provoke criticism, which is something totally normal, considering that the new Brazilian project for its foreign affairs has never been explained or discussed widely. But on the other hand, if these same examples are analyzed together and as parts of a broad scenario everyone can observe what is behind such Brazilian actions and which message the country wants to give. After intense discussions and the frustrated project to create Americas Free Trade Area, which was launched by the US in 1994, the US government seeked to strengthen its presence in the South American continent. Slowly the country started to sew a net of bilateral free trade agreements with Central and South American countries. It made its military presence possible in the Andean and Amazon region by the Plan Colombia. It seeked cooperation with Paraguay to set up military bases in that country what would let the US close to Itaipu the world´s biggest dam. They also reinstalled the US 4th Fleet in order to facilitate monitoring the Brazilian coastal hydrocarbon sources. And the US also hurried up to support the call for anticipated elections in Honduras by the established government after depriving the elected president. It is not surprising such approximation. The gas, the oil, the rainforest, the water, the huge consumer market make part of the greed of a superpower, it doesn´t matter who it is. And with all these movements taking place in an area surrounding Brazil´s territory, it is not surprising a Brazilian reaction to show that there is a counterpoint in the South American area. Brazil has realized the maneuvers and has decided that it cannot accept such interference in its natural region. And all of this is mainly taking place in a moment when the south area of the continent expresses almost unanimously and with a renewed vigor its support to economic integration initiatives in the region and condemning the old politics of aggression against nations.