The Biden administration is embarking on a diplomatic push to sway Brazilian president Lula da Silva, who has solidified Brazil’s relationships with anti-American dictatorships since taking office. One envoy, U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, is visiting Brazil this week with a key weapon in her arsenal: a focus on climate change and the administration’s diversity, equity, and inclusion-centered foreign-policy agenda.
“Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield will follow up on two key bilateral policy priorities announced by Presidents Biden and Lula in February: addressing the climate crisis and promoting equity, inclusion, and democratic values in the region and around the world,” a senior U.S. official told reporters during a briefing call yesterday. “Both the United States and Brazil agree: Climate change is one of the existential issues of our time,” the official added.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, Thomas-Greenfield met a number of important figures, including foreign minister Mauro Vieira, first lady Rosângela da Silva, and minister of racial equality Anielle Franco. She’s kept with that stated focus in her meetings, and, following her meeting with Franco today, the U.S. and Brazil released a joint statement on fighting racial discrimination.
Lula campaigned on an ambitious program to fight climate change and tackle racial discrimination in Brazil, making him a natural partner for the Biden administration. But since his election to Brazil’s presidency, Lula has also embarked on an all-out sprint to embrace Washington’s detractors around the world, despite efforts by the White House to forge a partnership early in his presidency.
Last month, he huddled with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing, walking away from that convivial gathering with plans to further develop his country’s relationship with China. During his trip, he blamed the U.S. for “encouraging war” in Ukraine, echoing Chinese talking points. Brazil’s decision to allow two Iranian military vessels — both of which the U.S. claimed have been linked to “illegal trade and terrorist activities”— to dock at Rio de Janeiro in February has been another sore point.
While in Brazil, Thomas-Greenfield will also address the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the senior official said. The administration sees this week’s travels by Thomas-Greenfield as an opportunity to shore up its relationship with the Lula government on that and other issues. “We look forward to cooperating with President Lula and Brazil now that our countries are both ‘back’ on the world stage. As President Biden has said, ‘There are no limits to what our nations can achieve by working together,’” the senior official said.