The outcome of the US midterm elections, which will determine control of Congress, could affect relations between Washington and Brasília, CNN international analyst Lourival Sant’Anna said on CNN Prime Time. He outlined a scenario in which pressure on Brazil could grow if Democrats win a majority in the House of Representatives and potentially the Senate, leaving President Donald Trump more politically cornered.
Sant’Anna said Trump had shown a tendency to bypass Congress and act unilaterally during the two years Republicans controlled it. He pointed to tariffs, immigration, the war against Iran, actions in Venezuela and operations targeting vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific. If Democrats take control, investigations could follow, while national security remains Trump’s main stated justification for unilateral measures, the analyst said.
In Sant’Anna’s assessment, Brazil could become a focus of greater pressure. He said the country has rejected the designation of certain organizations as “narcoterrorist” and has not joined the Shield of the Americas. Trump could use Brazil as an example in support of a national security argument, Sant’Anna said, noting that Brazil has not aligned itself with the United States and is home to groups Washington considers dangerous.
The analyst said Trump has so far appeared to favor maintaining a relatively stable relationship with Brazil’s government, while not recognizing the result of Brazil’s elections and promoting the claim that the left rigs electoral processes. But, Sant’Anna warned, increased domestic pressure on Trump could intensify efforts to draw Brazil away from China’s orbit and closer to the United States. He said resistance from President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva could lead to escalating tensions between the two countries.
Sources: CNN Brasil.