This Friday (2), the United States announced the interruption of consular activities in Brazil “for security reasons”. The announcement, two days before the first round of the Brazilian elections, would be motivated by an alleged bomb threat.
Late this Friday afternoon, the Federal Police (PF) released a note stating that “two search and seizure warrants in São Paulo and the surrounding Federal District” were carried out “to investigate alleged planning of acts that could put US diplomatic facilities in Brazil at risk. This is a preventive action adopted in a confidential investigation conducted by the Federal Police and the result of permanent cooperation with foreign intelligence agencies.”
For Ricardo Leães, professor and researcher of International Relations, it is yet another attempt by the US to generate panic to try to benefit candidate Flávio Bolsonaro (PL), just as the Trump government has done with other countries in Latin America.
“These events are worrying, because they serve to create a climate of panic among the population, to try to convey an image that Brazil is an unsafe place. This is very relevant in the context of elections, because it can later be used by the United States as a justification to say: ‘Look, eh, there was no fairness in that electoral process, which is why we are taking these necessary measures'”, he highlights in an interview with BdF Connectionyes Radio Brasil de Fato.
Leães reviews the history of recent months, which indicates real risks of Trump’s interference in the Brazilian electoral process, starting with the tariff on Brazilian products and the framing of the PCC and CV factions as terrorist organizations, and reaching the document produced by American congressmen expressing concern about the interference and the warning from the Brazilian Intelligence Agency (Abin).
“It’s another one of those episodes where we see smoke, because there’s probably fire. We’re smelling that these things are happening. We also had a complaint that the United States spent US$1 million against the STF here in Brazil. On October 1st, Trump said he was following the Brazilian election very closely and, now, on October 2nd, we had the suspension of consular services. When we look at this whole picture, it’s worrying”, he summarizes.
The professor considers it very difficult to know exactly where these American movements are going. But he reinforces that, in fact, there is an ongoing attempt to interfere in the electoral process. “They are trying to create a more favorable scenario for Flávio to win the elections, because it is clear that they prefer not to intervene in Brazil, they prefer an action that does not involve this type of cost, this type of wear and tear”, ponders Leães.
To listen and watch
The newspaper BdF Connection airs in two editions, from Monday to Friday: the first at 12pm and the second at 5pm, on Radio Brasil de Fato98.9 FM in Greater São Paulo, with simultaneous transmission also on YouTube do Brasil de Fato.
Source: www.brasildefato.com.br
