US President regards recent trip to Brazil as a “Historic Opportunity”
US President Barack Obama recently concluded a 5 day trip to Latin America aimed at building markets for US exports and extending US influence.
Mr Obama commenced the trip hoping to bolster ties with new Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff.
‘Historic opportunity’
In a joint news conference, both leaders flagged up Brazil’s rising economic power.
And Ms Rousseff promised that there would be opportunities for the US and Brazil to work together in areas such as genetics, biotechnology, finding renewable energy sources and deep-sea oil exploration.
“Combining our most advanced capabilities in the fields of research and innovation will certainly bear the best fruits for both our societies,” she said.
Mr Obama said that both he and the Brazilian leader regarded the trip as a “historic opportunity” to put the two nations on a path toward even greater co-operation.
One of Mr Obama’s aims was to increase energy trade between the two countries, and he has previously noted that Brazil’s newly discovered oil reserves could be even larger than America’s.
“Brazil is becoming a key factor in global energy markets with its recent deepwater oil discoveries,” senior Obama adviser Mike Froman told BBC Brasil before the trip.
‘Critical partner’
Brazil is the eighth largest importer of US goods, and the amount it buys from the US is growing rapidly, White House aides say.
“As a part of the president’s continued effort to deepen our ties with emerging markets around the world, Brazil is a critical partner and critical stop on this trip,” Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes said this week.
