Latest news with #CelsoAmorim
Russia Today
18 hours ago
- Business
- Russia Today
Brazil to defy Trump with push for BRICS cooperation
Brazil plans to strengthen ties with its fellow BRICS nations despite warnings from US President Donald Trump, a senior presidential adviser said on Saturday. Washington had threatened tariffs over the country's relations with the bloc and prosecution of former Brazilian leader Jair Bolsonaro. In an interview with the Financial Times, Celso Amorim stated that the US pressure is 'reinforcing our relations with the BRICS, because we want to have diversified relations and not depend on any one country.' He added that Brazil is also pursuing closer ties with partners in Europe, South America and Asia in order to broaden its diplomatic and economic options. Amorim went on to criticize Trump's actions and pressure as meddling in Brazil's internal affairs, saying the interference dwarfs anything seen 'even in colonial times.' 'I don't think even the Soviet Union would have done anything like this,' he said while denying that BRICS is an ideological group. Earlier this month, Trump threatened to impose tariffs of up to 50% on Brazilian imports, tying them to Brazil's handling of the trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who faces accusations of orchestrating a coup following his 2022 election defeat. In addition, Trump threatened an extra 10% levy against countries 'aligning themselves' with the BRICS bloc, which he deemed to be 'anti American.' Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva pushed back, warning Trump that he is not 'the emperor of the world' and that his country would not cave in to demands. The US president has been a fierce critic of the group of emerging economies led by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Trump has blasted the bloc over what he described as attempts to 'take over the dollar' stressing that he would spare no effort to preserve its hegemony. Russian officials have said that while BRICS is not pursuing a common currency, 65% of trade among members is now conducted in national currencies. Moscow has also stressed that BRICS was never intended to rival the US, adding that debates about moving away from the dollar are caused by Washington's 'arbitrary' actions.
Bloomberg
17-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
US Trade Probe of Brazil Weaponizes Negotiations, Lula Aide Says
A US trade probe suddenly ordered by President Donald Trump on Brazil sent shockwaves through President Luiz Inacio da Silva's government, according to a senior Brazilian diplomat who described it as an unwarranted threat that has helped to plunge relations to their lowest point in over a century. In an interview, Celso Amorim, Lula's top foreign policy adviser, sharply criticized the so-called Section 301 trade investigation into allegedly unfair restrictions on US exports to Latin America's largest economy.
Qatar Tribune
07-07-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
China's BRI faces downturn over debt concerns
Agencies London China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is facing a downturn as multiple countries withdraw or scale back their participation over concerns about sovereignty, debt sustainability, surveillance risks, and overreliance on Beijing. Notably, allies such as Pakistan and Myanmar have reassessed their involvement—a major blow to the megaproject that China has used to pursue political, economic, and military interests. Panama is the latest country to officially leave the BRI, having issued the required 90-day notice. The first Latin American nation to join the initiative in 2017, Panama questioned the benefits it had gained. 'What has it brought to Panama all these years?' President José Raúl Mulino asked. Losing Panama means China loses easier access to the Panama Canal, one of the world's most vital maritime trade chokepoints, and a strategic foothold in the Western Hemisphere near the US. While Beijing expressed regret and urged Panama to reconsider, Chinese officials failed to provide clear examples of benefits delivered under the BRI. Brazil, Latin America's largest economy, has consistently declined to join despite China's appeals. Celso Amorim, Special Presidential Adviser for International Affairs, said Brazil did not want BRI to serve as an 'insurance policy' and refused to enter into a treaty. Brazil is now the second BRICS member after India to reject the BRI, a move some analysts believe contributed to President Xi Jinping skipping the recent BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Italy was the first G7 country to join the BRI in 2019 but has since withdrawn. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a longtime critic who called the move a 'serious mistake,' led Italy's exit after concluding the country saw little economic benefit while China gained political influence. Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto described joining the BRI as an 'improvised and atrocious act.' The European Union as a whole has taken a cautious stance, viewing the BRI as a tool for China to advance industrial, and military aims. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned that the Chinese Communist Party's goal is a systemic transformation of the international order with China at its centre, citing the BRI as part of that effort. In Asia, the Philippines withdrew from BRI projects in 2023 over security, economic, and geopolitical concerns. Critics cited unfavourable loan terms, lack of Chinese financial commitment, and fears of unsustainable debt. 'These decisions can be assumed to be motivated by concerns over sustainability and Beijing's unwillingness to act like a responsible neighbour,' said Don McLain Gill, a geopolitical analyst at De La Salle University in Manila. Pakistan has been among the hardest-hit BRI partners. Many projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) failed to deliver promised returns or even operate as intended. Islamabad has had to scrap metro lines and coal-powered plants while delays led to major cost overruns. The country's mounting debt to China made Beijing its largest external creditor. Genevieve Donnellon-May, a geopolitical adviser, noted that China's loans have faced increasing scrutiny for exacerbating Pakistan's debt burden and fueling accusations of 'debt trap diplomacy.' Sri Lanka has shelved or cancelled several BRI projects due to heavy repayment obligations. Myanmar scaled back its participation years ago after watching Sri Lanka lose control of its Hambantota Port to China under debt pressure. 'Lessons that we learned from our neighbouring countries show that over-investment is not good sometimes,' said Soe Win, Myanmar's former planning minister and current deputy prime minister.
Time of India
03-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'We are not looking for war': Shashi Tharoor says Brazil backs India's anti-terror stance against Pakistan
NEW DELHI: Congress MP , who is leading an all-party delegation to Brazil, on Monday reiterated India's firm message to terror groups and their facilitators across the border, stating, 'I want to say once again if Pakistan had not chosen to expand the conflict, we would not have targeted Pakistani military facilitators. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now We are not looking for war. We are looking only to send a message to terrorists, but through them, we want the message to be heard by those who are providing them safe haven, by those who are financing them, training them, equipping them, guiding them and sending them across the border.' Speaking in Brasilia after meeting Brazil's top presidential adviser Celso Amorim, Tharoor said Brazil 'fully sympathises' with India's concerns on cross-border terrorism, especially in the aftermath of the April 22 and India's subsequent response through . "It was a wonderful meeting... we have worked closely together... it was an easy are finding lots of areas of agreement and know that Brazil will fully sympathise with what India is concerned about," Tharoor said, referring to Brazil's solidarity on the issue. Amorim reaffirmed Brazil's position, saying, 'Even if the reasons may be sad, it is a satisfaction to receive our Indian friends. .. we reiterated our condemnation of all acts of terrorism against the civilian population in India." Tharoor emphasised that India's military actions were carefully calibrated and not aimed at escalation. He underlined the lack of accountability in Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack and added that the delegation's mission was to 'seek greater sympathy and understanding' globally for India's counter-terror strategy. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "The reason we have come is very much to seek greater sympathy and understanding on the part of our friends... for the situations in the recent months, in particular the really serious attack on the country by terrorists in Kashmir," Tharoor noted, while also expressing gratitude for President Lula da Silva's personal condolence call to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Following their high-level diplomatic meetings, the delegation also held discussions with the India-Brazil Friendship Front, headed by Senator Nelsinho Trad, and with senior officials including Ambassador Maria Laura da Rocha, Secretary General of Foreign Affairs. The Indian delegation includes MPs from various parties: Shambhavi Chaudhary (LJP), Sarfaraz Ahmed (JMM), G M Harish Balayogi (TDP), Shashank Mani Tripathi, Tejaswi Surya, Bhubaneswar Kalita (all BJP), Mallikarjun Devda (Shiv Sena), Milind Deora (Shiv Sena), and former Indian Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu.
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First Post
03-06-2025
- Politics
- First Post
'Your friend in China...': Tharoor slams Beijing for backing Pak shielding terror group names at UNSC
During a discussion with Ambassador Celso Amorim of Brazil, Tharoor, who is leading an all-party delegation, highlighted New Delhi's fight against cross-border terrorism read more Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has taken a swipe at China for supporting Pakistan's call to shield the names of terrorist organisations at the UN Security Council, while reminding the delegation in Brazil that India's Operation Sindoor was a retaliation for terrorism. During a discussion with Ambassador Celso Amorim of Brazil, Tharoor, who is leading an all-party delegation, highlighted New Delhi's fight against cross-border terrorism. He said, 'Pakistan government, I am sorry to say that with the support of your friend in China, took out the name, so there is not even a reference. We are not on the Security Council, and neither are you. We have to change that situation. Both of us should be on the Council together.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Talking about Operation Sindoor, Tharoor said, 'The whole idea was to signal that we are not trying to start a war, we are just conducting retribution for an act of terror, which was a really vile act, 26 people being killed. It was horrendous and it was meant to do the maximum possible damage to India, to disrupt the Kashmiri economy, which was booming, to end the prospects of tourism flourishing in Kashmir…also to perhaps create a communal backlash in India.' He also expressed gratitude to Brazil for standing by India and calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally to offer condolences following the Pahalgam attack of April 22. Meanwhile, the Indian delegation, headed by Shashi Tharoor, is set to arrive in the United States for the final phase of its tour. Interestingly, a Pakistani delegation led by former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is also expected to be in the U.S. on Tuesday. Both groups are aiming to engage with American political leaders and lawmakers to rally support for their respective national interests. Talking about the timing of the Pakistani delegation's visit, Tharoor said, 'Tomorrow almost they will be in Washington, while we are in Washington on the same date. So there's going to be perhaps an increase in interest because of the fact that there are two duelling delegations in the same city.'
