Dilma Postpones
Her U.S. State Visit; Saves Face for Both Sides (Folha,
Brazil)
"The fact that it didn't entail losses of major consequence
to Brazil no doubt helped the decision along. ... There is also another aspect
that shouldn't be overlooked: the risk that during the visit, new revelations based
on documents obtained by whistleblower Edward Snowden, former American
intelligence analyst, would be made public. ... In the present case, it would
be an even greater embarrassment for Brazil if the meeting was held - pardon
the quip - just to give the Americans an even closer look."
EDITORIAL
Translated By Vieira
Maldonado and Rachael Bradley
President Obama greets Brazil President Dilma Rousseff at the G20 Summit in St. Petersburg, Russia, Sept. 6. Rousseff has postponed her planned state visit to the United States pending more thorough explanations and sincere apologies for the way Washington has spied on her and her nation.
President
DilmaRousseff's decision to
postpone her state visit to the United States, scheduled for October 23, is
understandable and reasonable, even if profoundly innocuous.
The
postponement, motivated by revelations that the communications and data of Brazilian
citizens and businesses - including those of the president herself - were
illegally monitored by the U.S. National Security Agency, does not constitute a
breakdown in relations with the world's leading economy.
Neither
will this make the Americans change their behavior, which, as the Brazilian
government said of their spying, "is an illegal and unacceptable violation
of Brazilian sovereignty. ... incompatible with the trust needed for a
strategic partnership between friendly nations." One should not imagine,
it must be said, that any nation will abandon the monitoring of opponents or
competitors.
If
she were inclined to exacerbate the episode, Dilma would
have permanently canceled her trip to the U.S. capital - during which she would
be the first head of state received with such honors during President Barack Obama's
second term.
This
is, rather, a timely diplomatic response to the lack of a satisfactory
explanation on the part of the U.S. government.
Witness
the friendly tone of the official statements from both governments which emphasize
the continuity of bilateral relations in areas like trade, energy, and defense,
and how they reiterate that the postponement was mutually agreed upon by the
two presidents.
The
fact that it didn't entail losses of major consequence to Brazil no doubt
helped the decision along.
The
visit to Washington would have undeniable symbolic importance, but would do
nothing to address issues of concrete relevance to the national agenda, such as
supporting Brazil's claim for a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council,
announcements of investments and trade agreements, or even an end to visas for
Brazilian tourists.
If
there was more at stake, pragmatism would undoubtedly have prevailed, and the
meeting would have gone forward.
Posted By Worldmeets.US
In
this context, postponing the trip raises the possibility that a future meeting will
go beyond mere formality and be planned around negotiations that are more
substantial and beneficial to the country.
There
is also another aspect that shouldn't be overlooked: the risk that during the visit,
new revelations based on documents obtained by whistleblower Edward Snowden,
former American intelligence analyst, would be made public.
In
the present case, it would be an even greater embarrassment for Brazil if the
meeting was held - pardon the quip - just to give the Americans an even closer look.
