Bolsonaro, Trump to discuss Venezuela
March 9, 2019
Brazil's new right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro will travel to Washington later this month to meet with US President Donald Trump, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Friday.
"President Trump and President Bolsonaro will discuss how to build a more prosperous, secure and democratic Western Hemisphere," Sanders said about the meeting, which is set to take place on March 19.
Both presidents have often praised each other in the past, and officials in Washington and Brasilia have made an effort to deepen ties between the two nations.
Read more: Opinion: Brazil's Bolsonaro sworn in but still campaigning
Bolsonaro has long been seen as "Brazil's Trump," as he drove a wave of voter disenchantment with establishment parties to win the presidency last year. Much like Trump, Bolsonaro has governed with a pro-business conservative agenda and is a prolific Twitter user, known for his incendiary remarks.
Venezuela a priority
Since taking office on January 1, Bolsonaro has found an ally in Trump when it comes to opposing the left-wing regimes in Nicaragua, Cuba and Venezuela. Brazil and the US have fully backed self-declared interim President Juan Guaido and are vocal opponents of acting President Nicolas Maduro.
The White House confirmed Trump and Bolsonaro would be discussing efforts to bring about change in Venezuela.
"The leaders of the hemisphere's two largest economies will also discuss opportunities for defense cooperation, pro-growth trade policies, combating transnational crime and restoring democracy in Venezuela," Sanders said.
"They will talk about the major role that the United States and Brazil are playing in the effort to provide humanitarian assistance to Venezuela."
In late February, Bolsonaro allowed humanitarian aid to be stored on Brazil's side of the border with Venezuela, which Guaido attempted to bring into the country. The push was unsuccessful, with the military largely remaining loyal to Maduro and blocking the aid.
jcg/cmk (AFP, AP, Reuters)