In Brazil Stop, Britain Seeks to Renew Latin American Ties

With the United Kingdom interested in boosting its diplomatic ties with Latin America, British Foreign Secretary William Hague arrived in Brazil on January 18 to meet with a number of high-ranking officials. The outreach is part of Prime Minister David Cameron’s efforts to boost ties with emerging economies, which the British government bets will be the future drivers of global growth. While in Rio de Janeiro, Hague billed the outreach as “Britain’s most ambitious effort to strengthen ties with Latin America in 200 years.” Indeed, the visit comes amid continued economic instability in the eurozone and news that Brazil has surpassed the United Kingdom as the world’s sixth largest economy. Despite some diverging opinions on Iran policy and Mercosur restrictions on Falklands vessels, the visit led to a number of agreements focused on trade, energy, the environment, and education.

Latin America has featured prominently in Cameron’s emerging markets strategy. “We are turning around decades of British withdrawal in Latin America,” Hague told Britain’s The Telegraph before departing for Brazil. To that end, the United Kingdom has increased its diplomatic presence in the region after years of downsizing, and set trade goals, such as doubling trade with Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico by 2015. There were 37 British ministerial visits to Latin America in the first 18 months of the Cameron government—14 to Brazil alone. The focus on Brazil reflects Britain’s growing trade ties with that country: bilateral trade between Brazil and the United Kingdom reached $8.75 billion in 2011, up 10.21 percent over 2010. Furthermore, the United Kingdom has become the sixth largest investor in the Brazilian economy, with British investments growing to $8.4 billion over the last decade. “It is a country we must not neglect,” Hague told The Telegraph.

He also indicated that Brazil will get the UK’s backing at the UN; Hague offered his country’s support for Brazil’s bid to obtain a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, based on Brazil’s economic preeminence in Latin America and long-time commitment to democracy and international security. This stands in contrast to the unclear support for the idea offered by U.S. President Barack Obama during his Brazil visit in March 2011, and legitimizes a long-term diplomatic objective of Brazil’s Foreign Ministry. However, Hague acknowledges the two countries maintain differing attitudes on some UN issues, including Iran, with Brazil saying it remains skeptical about the use of sanctions as proposed by the United States and European Union. Brazil, along with Turkey, attempted to lead an unsuccessful mediation with Iran in 2010.

The Falkland Islands also prove a sticking point in Brazilian-British relations. Argentina lays claims to the Falklands, currently an overseas territory of the United Kingdom, and the two countries fought a brief war over them 30 years ago. In December, Brazil heeded demands from its Mercosur ally Argentina to close its ports to ships bearing the Falklands ensign, a move followed by the other Mercosur members (Uruguay and Paraguay) as well as Chile. Brazilian Foreign Minister Antônio Patriota told Hague during their meeting on January 18 that Brazil and all of Latin America back Argentina’s claims to the island, and that his country supports UN resolutions on the subject calling for a dialogue between the UK and Argentina. Hague said his country supports the self-determination of the Falkland Islanders, and hoped the issue would not hurt the “growing and productive” relationship with Brazil.

Hague and Patriota’s meeting also touched on topics ranging from nuclear disarmament, climate change, and global development aid to economic, scientific, and education cooperation. The two countries pledged to cooperate in energy, organization of mega sports events, education, as well as technology and development. On his Twitter account, Hague said the UK would welcome 10,000 Brazilian students at British universities over the next four years. British scientists are also expected to come to Brazil as part of the “Science without Borders” program. The two ministers pledged to promote greater bilateral trade and to avoid protectionism, with hopes to reopen talks for an EU-Mercosur free trade agreement.

Hague also announced that Prince Harry would be visiting Rio de Janeiro in March to promote the London Olympics, and mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Learn More:

• Read the full press release of the meeting between Patriota and Hague from the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Relations.
• Read William Hague’s remarks from Rio de Janeiro.
• Access the British Embassy’s “UK in Brazil” web page.