Brazil & Southern Cone - March 2011 (ISSN 1741-4431)

Obama charms Brazil

President Barack Obama’s trip to Brazil over the weekend of 19-20 March was judged a success and an important symbolic ‘re-set’ button for the somewhat strained bilateral political ties between the US and Brazil. Although the Libyan crisis was a distraction, and there was little in the way of new policy announcements, Obama said all the right things, praising Brazil’s democracy and economy and acknowledging its deep desire for recognition as a top table global player. "Let us stand together not as senior and junior partners but as equal partners", he declared in Rio on 20 March, to standing ovations.