 |
| Not everyone will be welcoming the US president to Brazil |
US President Barack Obama has begun a five-day trip to Latin America aimed at building markets for US exports and extending US influence.
Mr Obama has started his tour in Brazil, a major market for US goods, where he hopes to bolster ties with new Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff.
He later travels to Chile and El Salvador.
The White House bills the trip as a way to create US jobs by deepening economic ties with Latin American countries.
Brazilian authorities have raised security for Mr Obama's visit and police in Rio have closed a number of streets in preparation.
Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to break up a
demonstration of about 300 people protesting against the US at the US consulate in Rio on Friday. Seeking 'Common prosperity'
"Our neighbours in the Americas are bound to us by shared history, values and interests," Mr Obama wrote in the USA Today newspaper on Friday.
"What I will convey this week is that we are partners in progress.
"Strengthening these partnerships will advance the common prosperity and common security of all our people, creating new jobs and new growth across the hemisphere, and helping our economy remain an engine of strength and opportunity for all our people."
Mr Obama left Washington on Friday night for the Brazilian capital of Brasilia, where he was due to hold a meeting and a news conference with Ms Rousseff.
Mr Obama will meet hundreds of Brazilian business leaders in a forum on job creation. And in addition to pitching US exports to Brazilian markets, he will urge Brazilian companies to invest in the US.
He then travels to Rio de Janeiro, where he is to visit the Christ the Redeemer statue and make a speech aimed at describing to Brazilians the values the two countries share.
Energy
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.
Mr Obama also hopes to increase energy trade between the two countries, and has noted Brazil's newly discovered oil reserves could be even larger than America's.
"Brazil is becoming a key actor in global energy markets with its recent deepwater oil discoveries," senior Obama adviser Mike Froman told BBC Brasil.
Meanwhile, Brazil will be watching to see whether Mr Obama backs the country's bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
White House aides have said the two presidents will discuss the matter but declined to state his position.
In Chile, Mr Obama will make a speech laying out goals on energy co-operation, security, economic growth and development, and democracy and human rights, White House aides said.
El Salvador is home to one of America's largest Hispanic populations. But its murder rate has been climbing, as have cocaine seizures in the country and what is perceived by some as growing insecurity is concerning US officials.
Mr Obama will have talks with left-wing El Salvadoran President Mauricio Funes.
No comments:
Post a Comment