Loading ...Article - Cunha Says Obama-Lula Talks Point to Brazil’s Regional Role
March 13 (Bloomberg) - Paulo Vieira da Cunha, a partner at Tandem Global Partners LLC and former Brazilian central bank board member, comments tomorrow’s meeting between U.S. President Barack Obama and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Cunha spoke today in panel discussion at the Council of the Americas in New York along with Joyce Chang, global head of emerging-markets research, foreign exchange and commodities at JPMorgan Chase & Co., and U.S. Ambassador to Brazil Clifford M. Sobel.
Cunha on likely talking points for Obama and Lula:
“My sense is that the meeting will focus primarily on political issues. Issues like Venezuela, Bolivia, Argentina. There is an increase in concern about drugs. That’s s a problem for Brazil as well. And, of course, the global financial crisis and the upcoming G-20 meeting.
“In the regional context, the political issues will be critical. Because Brazil has a much more prominent political stature in the region and in questions such as Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia, consultations and even the leadership of Brazil in some of these initiatives will be important and I think Brazil is now willing to accept more of that leadership.
“Clearly from President Lula’s perspective it is important to meet President Obama. It’s a signal of the respect and mutual admiration of the two of them that President Obama has made the time to meet President Lula when obviously there are more important issues on his domestic agenda.”
Change on the significance of Brazil to the U.S.:
“Why is Brazil important? It is one of the top 10 trade partners for the U.S., it is the largest economy in South America. It has abundant commodity resources and areas for cooperation and opportunities for businesses in the U.S. It is very encouraging that Obama is meeting with Lula early in his administration.”
Sobel on timing of the meeting:
“I do think it is very important to know that very early in President Obama’s administration that he’s meeting President Lula. I think it does make an important statement.”
“When you look at the deep roots of democracy — social inclusion, orientation to free markets — and you look at the other BRICs, there is a natural in this relationship that allows for partnership and that is what this is all about, this meeting tomorrow, creating that bridge-building mechanism to be able to talk about global issues, regional issues, bilateral issues.”
Source: Bloomberg.
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