Bolsonaro scale tension to justify Trump’s action, analyzes government

The assessment is that Bolsonaro has suffered an image loss in public opinion in the country and now goes to “all or nothing”. “He uses the nuclear strategy, which is Trump,” warned an experienced diplomat.

The government is already waiting for this week new sanctions by the White House against Brazil. But they would need justifications. Among the options is the confiscation of assets of Brazilian authorities and the exclusion of the American financial system.

The assessment of government members is that the tension established between Brazil and the US will be long lasting and will dominate foreign policy in the coming months. For diplomacy, there will be no flexibility of the American position, as the requirements and conditions are unfeasible: the amnesty for Bolsonaro, something the STF is not willing to adopt.

On the government’s side, the strategy is to avoid giving the impression that the crisis is being maneuvered by Brazil. Therefore, no retaliation was adopted, and not even the convening of the Brazilian Ambassador in Washington.

But it is not excluded that, given new measures, the government has to react politically, including the call of its representative in the American capital.

Another goal is to show public opinion that, if there is a climb, it starts from Bolsonaro’s allies and the US government itself.