2024-02-21 01:11:26
The US Secretary of State arrived in Brazil on Tuesday in his first visit to this country since taking office more than three years ago. There are clear differences between the United States and Brazil on the international scene. This country adopts a position completely different from the position of Washington and its allies regarding the war in Ukraine. On the other hand, Blinken arrived in Brazil days following its President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva accused Israel of committing “genocide” once morest Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.
Published on: 02/21/2024 – 02:11
4 minutes
In light of her crisis with Israel Regarding the war in Gaza, the US Secretary of State arrived in Brazil on Tuesday, where he is attending the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting. The US State Department said that Blinken will meet with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to discuss bilateral and global issues, and will confirm US support for Brazil’s presidency of the group. This is the first visit by the head of American diplomacy to this country since he assumed his duties more than three years ago.
The visit comes days following Lula angered Israel by likening its military operations in Gaza to the “Jewish Holocaust.”
Blinken is scheduled to begin his visit in Brasilia and then head to Rio de Janeiro to attend the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting, before stopping in Argentina, where he will meet new President Javier Milley.
Lola said The 78-year-old said during a visit to Ethiopia to attend the African Union Summit that what is happening in the Gaza Strip “is not a war, it is genocide.”
He added, “What is happening in the Gaza Strip with the Palestinian people did not happen at any other moment in history. In fact, it happened when Hitler decided to kill the Jews.”
This comparison angered Israel, which declared Lula “persona non grata.” Its Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said that the Brazilian president had “crossed the red line.”
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz summoned Brazilian Ambassador Frederico Mayer. In return, Brazil recalled its ambassador from Tel Aviv for consultations.
Later, Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira accused his Israeli counterpart, Katz, of “lying,” describing his statements as “unacceptable in nature, false in content,” and also “disgraceful.”
He revealed that his country informed the Israeli government that Brazil would respond in accordance with diplomatic norms.
American position
Washington expressed its rejection of Lula’s statements on Tuesday. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters, “It is clear that we do not agree with these statements. We have been very clear that we do not believe that genocide will occur in Gaza.”
Hours before Blinken arrived in Brazil, Washington once more used its veto once morest a draft resolution in the Security Council calling for an “immediate” ceasefire in Gaza.
The war in Gaza led to the deaths of more than 29,000 people, most of them women and children, according to the latest statistics issued by the Ministry of Health in the Hamas-run Strip. The war broke out on October 7th following an attack by Hamas on Israel, which led to the death of 1,200 people, according to the official Israeli toll.
The atmosphere of the meeting
It is expected that Blinken and Lula’s meeting will take place in an awkward atmosphere following hopes for a new beginning in relations between the United States and Brazil following the end of the term of Jair Bolsonaro, who was also known for his frankness.
Blinken’s first trip as Secretary of State to Brazil comes more than three years following taking office, an unusually long wait before visiting the most populous country in the Western Hemisphere following the United States.
But the Biden administration was not interested in dealing with Lula’s predecessor, far-right Jair Bolsonaro, an ally of former President Donald Trump who has mocked climate action and is under investigation for an alleged attempt to overturn the election result.
Lula, who served as president from 2003 to 2010, traveled to Washington and met Biden following his return to power in early 2023.
But the current president of Brazil has already shown his difference with the United States on the international stage through his position on Ukraine. He accused Kiev and its Western backers of bearing partial responsibility for the war, and not just Russia, which invaded nearly two years ago.
France 24/AFP/Reuters
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