US President will designate Brazil as a major non-NATO ally in recognition of the South American state’s deepening defense cooperation with the US.

US President Donald Trump announced the decision in a White House press release on Wednesday. The decision to recognize Brazil as a major non-NATO ally comes due to "Brazil's recent commitments to increase defense cooperation with the United State."

“In accordance with section 517 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, I am providing notice of my intent to designate Brazil as a Major Non-NATO Ally. I am making this designation in recognition of the Government of Brazil’s recent commitments to increase defense cooperation with the United States, and in recognition of our own national interest in deepening our defense coordination with Brazil.” it said.

As a non-NATO ally, Brazil would become a preferred buyer of US military equipment, would participate in Pentagon military auctions, and would participate in military exercises and training operations with US forces. </s> TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:

In accordance with section 517 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended (22 U.S.C. 2321k), I am providing notice of my intent to designate Brazil as a Major Non-NATO Ally.

I am making this designation in recognition of the Government of Brazil’s recent commitments to increase defense cooperation with the United States, and in recognition of our own national interest in deepening our defense coordination with Brazil.

DONALD J. TRUMP

THE WHITE HOUSE,

May 8, 2019. </s> May 9 (UPI) -- Ahead of a U.S. visit by Brazilian President Jair Bolsonro next week, President Donald Trump has designated the South American nation a major non-NATO ally.

Trump previously said he favored Brazil joining NATO and has been a proponent of Bolsonaro's. Wednesday, the U.S. president declared in a memo to Congress Brazil's new status as a major non-NATO ally -- the 18th nation to receive that label from the United States.

"I am making this designation in recognition of the Government of Brazil's recent commitments to increase defense cooperation with the United States, and in recognition of our own national interest in deepening our defense coordination with Brazil," Trump said in a statement.

The designation is given to non-NATO-affiliated foreign governments considered by the United States a key strategic military partner. Tunisia was the last to receive the designation for its counter-terrorism work with American forces.

Bolsonaro will visit the United States next week, in a trip to Dallas. He was supposed to visit New York City to accept a Person of the Year award from the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce, but controversial policies and statements caused activists to protest. The American Museum of Natural History ultimately canceled plans to host a black tie gala for Bolsonaro.

Spokesman Rego Barros said some U.S. cities "do not know how to take advantage of the good democratic environment in the United States, and therefore, Bolsonaro will visit another city within the country."

"Our president has already received several invitations from other [U.S.] states that ensure he will be honored properly when he arrives there," he added. </s> WASHINGTON DC – US President Donald Trump has notified Congress of his decision to designate Brazil as its main non-NATO partner, as Washington attempts to ratchet up pressure on Caracas, where Maduro’s government has recently succeeded in warding off two rounds of intensive coup-attempts.

FRN assesses that these moves represent attempts by the Trump administration to gear NATO towards Monroe Doctrine types of operations. This is a complicated endeavor because the main tension between the EU and Washington is over whether Washington will be allowed to insert itself as middle-man on Latin American business dealings, particularly in the area of banking and finance. Presently, Venezuela has strong ties not just to Russia, but also to Southern and Western European banking establishments.

The information was released in a White House statement without further details. According to the note, the appointment is linked to the US recognition of Brazil’s commitment to “increase cooperation on defense issues”, in particular surrounding Cuba and Venezuela.

“I am making this designation in recognition of the Government of Brazil’s recent commitments to increase defense cooperation with the United States, and in recognition of our own national interest in deepening our defense coordination with Brazil,” Trump wrote in a letter to the Congress and released by the White House.

During the visit of President Jair Bolsonaro (PSL) to Washington in the United States, the possibility of making Brazil a preferred NATO ally was voiced. In the White House, Donald Trump said that intends to name Brazil for the position.

On Monday, it was reported that the blockade was maintained for the analysis of new members joining the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which represents a failure to comply with Donald Trump’s promise to Jair Bolsonaro of support the entry of Brazil into the organization.

Trump also announced back in March that he was “very strongly” considering NATO membership for Brazil, during a visit from Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro to the White House.

NATO leadership is a little cooler towards the idea of Brazilian integration. Secretary-General of the alliance Jens Stoltenberg said last week that Brazil may not join the military pact, but could become “a very close partner” of the group.

NATO is currently made up of 29 full-fledged member states, and a handful of so-called “aspiring members,” including Ukraine and Georgia. Twenty-one more countries are considered partner states, with Colombia the most recent South American addition.

Bolsonaro rose to power last October as an unabashed admirer of President Trump, and his trip to Washington this year was the right-wing leader’s first trip abroad for a bilateral meeting. Since taking office, Bolsonaro has remained a supporter of American foreign policy, following Washington’s lead in recognizing Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido’s claim to the country’s presidency, and coordinating a politically-loaded humanitarian shipment to Venezuela with the US. </s> President Donald Trump will designate Brazil assays Trump's notification to the Congress.Trump announced the decision in a White House press release on Wednesday. As a non-NATO ally,Seventeen other countries, including Israel, Japan, South Korea and Australia hold equivalent status.Trump also announced back in March that he was "very strongly" considering NATO membership for Brazil, during a visit from Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro to the White House.NATO leadership is a little cooler towards the idea of Brazilian integration. Secretary-General of the alliance Jens Stoltenberg said last week thatNATO is currently made up of 29 full-fledged member states, and a handful of so-called "aspiring members," including Ukraine and Georgia.Bolsonaro rose to power last October as an unabashed admirer of President Trump, and his trip to Washington this year was the right-wing leader's first trip abroad for a bilateral meeting. Since taking office, Bolsonaro has remained a supporter of American foreign policy, following Washington's lead in recognizing Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido's claim to the country's presidency, and coordinating a politically-loaded humanitarian shipment to Venezuela with the US. </s> "I am making this designation in recognition of the Government of Brazil's recent commitments to increase defense cooperation with the United States, and in recognition of our own national interest in deepening our defense coordination with Brazil", Trump said in his message to Congress.

During a meeting with his Brazilian counterpart, Jair Bolsonaro, at the White House in March, Trump said that he was considering Brazil's membership in NATO.

However, article 10 of The North Atlantic Treaty, signed in Washington in April 1949, stipulates that the alliance's members may only invite European states to accede to the treaty.

READ MORE: Just Business: Brazil Cuts Flow of Money to Venezuela

NATO is currently comprised of 29 member states. According to the North Atlantic Treaty, NATO membership is open to "any other European state in a position to further the principles of this Treaty and to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area".

US National Security Adviser John Bolton has confirmed Brazil’s designation and has said that the bilateral cooperation would focus on Venezuela, Iran, and China.

"That's not a hypothesis we're considering. Brazil is looking forward to a peaceful and swift solution to the crisis in Venezuela". Azevedo said.

Large-scale protests against Nicolas Maduro sparked in Venezuela on 21 January soon after he was sworn in for a new term. Juan Guaido proclaimed himself an interim leader of the country. A number of Western countries, including the United States, backed his claim. Maduro, in turn, has accused the United States of trying to orchestrate a coup in order to install Guaido as its puppet. Russia, China, and a number of other countries have voiced their support for constitutionally-elected Maduro as the only legitimate president of Venezuela.

READ MORE: Failed Venezuela Coup 'Example of US Intervention in Latin America' – Campaigner

Amid the events, which Caracas has repeatedly described as a failed coup attempt, Bolton reiterated that "all options are on the table" with regard to Venezuela, adding that Washington hopes to see a peaceful transfer of power. </s> President Donald Trump on Tuesday said his administration is working on a free-trade agreement with Brazil, to cement closer ties between the two largest economies in the western hemisphere.

[WASHINGTON] President Donald Trump on Tuesday said his administration is working on a free-trade agreement with Brazil, to cement closer ties between the two largest economies in the western hemisphere.

"We are going to work on a free-trade agreement with Brazil. Brazil is a big trading partner. Other than that, we love the relationship," Mr Trump told reporters at the White House.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is scheduled to host US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in Brasilia on Wednesday.

"I have a great relationship with Brazil. I have a fantastic relationship with your president," Mr Trump said of the Brazilian leader, adding: "They call him the Trump of Brazil. I like that."

Far-right Bolsonaro is part of a populist wave that has swept the Americas and Europe in recent years, making him a kindred spirit with Trump.

With about US$70 billion in two-way annual goods exchanges between the two nations, the United States typically enjoys a robust trade surplus with Brazil.

Major US exports include agriculture goods such as wheat and animal feeds as well as information and telecommunications services.

Imports include aircraft, fuels, coffee and meat as well as iron and steel.

In 2011, the two countries signed an agreement on trade and economic cooperation to ease commercial exchanges.

But Mr Ross played down expectations for an agreement to be reached quickly.

Speaking to reporters in Sao Paulo, he also warned that a recent trade pact between the European Union and Mercosur countries - Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay - should not contain anything that would block a deal with the US.

Brazil's deputy economy minister Marcos Troyjo told AFP a bilateral agreement with the US would be possible if it did not involve tariffs.

Otherwise, it would be necessary to involve its Mercosur partners in the negotiations. </s> WASHINGTON, July 31 — President Donald Trump yesterday said his administration is working on a free-trade agreement with Brazil, to cement closer ties between the two largest economies in the western hemisphere.

“We are going to work on a free-trade agreement with Brazil. Brazil is a big trading partner. Other than that, we love the relationship,” Trump told reporters at the White House.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is scheduled to host US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in Brasilia today.

“I have a great relationship with Brazil. I have a fantastic relationship with your president,” Trump said of the Brazilian leader, adding: “They call him the Trump of Brazil. I like that.”

Far-right Bolsonaro is part of a populist wave that has swept the Americas and Europe in recent years, making him a kindred spirit with Trump.

With about US$70 billion (RM288.7 billion) in two-way annual goods exchanges between the two nations, the United States typically enjoys a robust trade surplus with Brazil.

Major US exports include agriculture goods such as wheat and animal feeds as well as information and telecommunications services.

Imports include aircraft, fuels, coffee and meat as well as iron and steel.

In 2011, the two countries signed an agreement on trade and economic cooperation to ease commercial exchanges.

But Ross played down expectations for an agreement to be reached quickly.

Speaking to reporters in Sao Paulo, he also warned that a recent trade pact between the European Union and Mercosur countries — Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay — should not contain anything that would block a deal with the US.

Brazil’s deputy economy minister Marcos Troyjo told AFP a bilateral agreement with the US would be possible if it did not involve tariffs.

Otherwise, it would be necessary to involve its Mercosur partners in the negotiations. — AFP </s> Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has stated that his sentiment for US President Donald Trump is growing more intense, the website Brazil 247 reported.

"After that compliment from Trump yesterday, I'm more and more in love with him", he said after Trump's speech about US-Brazilian relations.

The US president earlier expressed hope of reaching a free trade agreement with Brazil and complimented Bolsonaro, noting that Brazil is already a "big trading partner" for the United States. Trump, however, complained that the country has imposed "a lot of tariffs" on US goods.

Bolsonaro previously stated that he was considering appointing his son, lawmaker Eduardo Bolsonaro, as Brazilian ambassador to the United States.

In June, Bolsonaro said that he supported Trump's 2020 re-election bid during a meeting between the two at the G20 summit in the Japanese city of Osaka.
U.S. President Donald Trump notifies the Congress that he will designate Brazil as a Major non-NATO ally in light of recent commitments to increase defense cooperation between both countries.