Obama refers to Brazil as global power
President Dilma Rousseff during a statement to the press next to President Barack Obama
US President Barack Obama described Brazil as a global power, and not just a regional player, adding that international talks on such crucial topics as economy, climate, and terrorism can only be successful if Brazil takes part in them. While speaking to the press next to President Dilma Rousseff, Obama said he “trust[s] her completely,” and that he has had an “excellent relationship” with the Latin American country ever since she took office.
After unveiling a deal in which both agree to increase the share of renewable energy in their total production, the two heads of state answered questions posed by journalists. One of them addressed Rousseff. The inquiry raised doubt as to what to make of diverging views on the role of Brazil—while the Latin American country sees itself as a key world power, the US regards the nation as playing a local role. In his turn to reply, Obama made a point of saying that Brazil is a major “global power.”
“We see Brazil as a global power, not a regional player. If you think about the preeminent economic forum for coordinating between major economies, the G-20 [the world's top 20 economies], Brazil is a major voice in that,” the US president said, adding that issue of climate change can only succeed if Brazil takes the lead. It shows how much of a global power Brazil is, he argued.
In her response, Dilma Rousseff once again mentioned the similarities between the two countries, and said that, just as the US overcame the 2008-2009 economic crisis, Brazil will also “tackle the effects currently making an impact on itself.”
According to Obama, if the North American country is looking to be successful in such pursuits as the eradication of misery and the fight against extreme poverty in the world, it needs partners—and Brazil is one of them. “I told President Dilma last night that, you know, the US, as powerful as we are and as interested as we are in solving a whole range of international issues, recognizes we can't do it alone.”
Rousseff also mentioned the surveillance allegations targeting Brazilian nationals and authorities made by the National Security Agency (NSA), which forced the Latin American president to call of her official visit to Washington, slated for 2013, and said that “from then on, a few things have changed.” She noted “the fact that Obama and the US stated on other occasions that there wouldn't be any more intrusive acts against partner countries,” and added, “I believe Obama; he told me that, if he needed any classified information on Brazil, he would call me. I'm sure conditions are significantly different now.”
Translated by Fabrício Ferreira
Fonte: Obama refers to Brazil as global power
