Brazil's Far-Right Criticized for Subservience to Trump, Damaging National Interests

Brazil's far-right government is facing scrutiny over its approach to international relations and its handling of domestic crime. A recent decision by the Trump administration to label Brazilian criminal factions, the PCC and Comando Vermelho, as foreign terrorist organizations has raised concerns about the future of police cooperation between the two nations.

This U.S. designation imposes financial sanctions and penal measures, shifting the fight against these factions from a domestic policing issue for Brazil to a national security concern for the United States. This opens the door for potential unilateral actions by the U.S., including covert operations or even military force, outside of Brazilian control.

Specialists are divided on the extent of damage this unilateral measure could inflict on established police cooperation, as well as on Brazil's financial sector and companies operating in the U.S. While the transnational nature of organized crime necessitates concerted efforts, Brazil has little to gain from submitting its urgent fight against these criminal factions to U.S. discretion.

The episode also highlights what the article describes as the "astonishing unpreparedness" of the far-right to govern the country, particularly in its international dealings. Flávio Bolsonaro's visit to the White House, captured in a photo with Trump, is seen as a symbol of subservience and ignorance of the complexities of Brazil-U.S. relations and diplomatic traditions. Historically, Brazil has rarely aligned unconditionally with the U.S., preferring cooperation when interests converge, negotiation when possible, and distance when differences are irreconcilable.