Brasilia – Chinese President Xi Jinping’s dream project, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has suffered another major setback. Brazil has made it clear that it will not be a part of this ambitious plan. Earlier, China had planned that the expansion of BRI would be emphasized during Jinping’s visit to Brazil in November. Actually, the US had warned Brazil to review the potential dangers of BRI, which is often seen as a debt trap of China. After this warning, the Brazilian government decided not to join BRI.
Celso Amorim, special adviser to the Brazilian President on international affairs, said, “We are not going to sign on to take BRI forward. Our aim is to cooperate with Chinese investors, but without officially joining BRI.” Amorim clarified that Brazil does not want to take Chinese infrastructure and trade projects as an insurance policy. He said, we want to link some frameworks to Brazil’s infrastructure projects, but for this we will not have to sign BRI. Brazil’s decision goes against Chinese plans to expand the BRI during Xi Jinping’s visit in November.
Brazil’s diplomats had advised to postpone the announcement of joining the BRI until the US election results were out. If former President Trump is re-elected, Brazil’s joining the BRI may provide short-term benefits, but its long-term consequences could have a negative impact on US relations. This decision makes it clear that the strategic priorities of countries like Brazil and India give more importance to their relations with the US.
