Broadening U.S.-Brazilian Cooperation

The United States and Brazil, the two most populous democracies in the Americas, and the Hemisphere's largest economies, share many common values and interests as well as complementary strengths. So it only makes good sense that they develop a strong and cooperative relationship.

“The United States and Brazil, because we are democracies, have a special obligation to stand for our values,” said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at a recent meeting of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “The policies we embrace and the investments that we make will shape our shared future.”

The two countries have a long history of cooperation in development and poverty alleviation. They work together to improve health and food security in Africa, combat child labor in Haiti, and counter narco-trafficking in Colombia.

Currently the United States and Brazil are working on developing a stronger partnership on issues of common interest such as trade and investment, energy and climate change, non-proliferation, space security, cooperation in political-military affairs and efforts to combat transnational crime, social inclusion and human rights.

But there is a great deal of as yet untapped potential for economic cooperation between the two countries. Brazil’s economic might is only beginning to blossom. Its economy is the sixth largest in the world, and is set to become the fifth-largest economy in a few years.

The two countries are vastly expanding people-to-people ties. President Obama's 100,000 Strong in the Americas goal and President Rousseff’s “Science without Borders” program promote an unprecedented two-way exchange of students in math, science and technology. The opening of two new U.S. consulates in Brazil and shorter waiting times for Brazilian visitors to receive visas to the United States will help to facilitate more tourist travel between the two nations.

“The good news is that the relationship between Brazil and the United States has never been stronger,” said U.S. President Barack Obama on April 9th, after a bilateral meeting with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff. “But we always have even greater improvements that can be made. And I feel very fortunate to have such a capable and far-sighted partner as President Rousseff, so that not only Brazil and the United States, but the world can benefit from our deeper cooperation.”