Bolsonaro's Reaction to The U.S. Capitol Invasion Will Likely Dampen Brazil's Relationship with Biden

At Itamaraty, diplomats are frustrated with the relationship between the US and Brazil

Brasília

Statements made by President Jair Bolsonaro and foreign minister Ernesto Araújo about the invasion of the U.S.Congress will likely negatively affect the relationship between the Brazilian government and president-elect Joe Biden.


American and Brazilian government insiders who talked to Folha said that the Brazilians' reaction to the Capitol invasion has reinforced the image that Democrats have of Bolsonaro: an extreme-right wing radical, unpredictable, loyal to Donald Trump and capable of making decisions contrary to his own country's interests.

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 09: An American flag flies at a makeshift memorial for U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who was fatally injured when a pro-Trump mob stormed and entered the Capitol Building on Wednesday, near the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 9, 2021 in Washington, DC. A pro-Trump mob stormed and desecrated the U.S. Capitol on January 6 as Congress held a joint session to ratify President-elect Joe Biden's 306-232 Electoral College win over President Donald Trump. Al Drago/Getty Images/AFP - AFP

In the long run, the Brazilian government's reaction to the American crisis can potentially damage both the dialogue between the two governments and their strategic partnerships, especially if Bolsonaro insists on antagonizing Biden and continues to present himself as the "Trump of the Tropics."


After the scenes of violence in Washington last Wednesday (6), when a crowd inflated by Trump invaded the Capitol and suspended a session to certify a victory for the Democrat, Bolsonaro said that he is "linked to Trump" and that there were "lots of fraud claims" in the American elections. He also stated that "we will have a worse problem than the United States" if Brazil does not implement paper ballots for the 2022 elections.

Translated by Kiratiana Freelon

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