{"id":42771,"date":"2026-08-13T08:37:25","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T03:37:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=42771"},"modified":"2026-08-13T08:37:25","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T03:37:25","slug":"brazils-elections-are-the-acid-test-for-trumps-latin-america-policy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=42771","title":{"rendered":"Brazil\u2019s elections are the acid test for Trump\u2019s Latin America policy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/lula_luiz-inacio-da-silva_brazil_11192025_AP26219662666657-1.jpg?w=900\" \/><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>\n        <iframe id=\"instaread_iframe\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Audio Article\" style=\"display:block\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\"><\/iframe>\n    <\/p>\n<p><\/instaread-player><\/p>\n<p>President Trump\u2019s new\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/12\/09\/nx-s1-5633261\/white-house-calls-national-security-strategy-trumps-version-of-the-monroe-doctrine\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>Monroe Doctrine<\/u><\/a> has tipped the scales in recent elections in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/world\/2026\/08\/10\/trump-endorse-elections-latin-america\/91183512007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>Colombia, Peru, Honduras, Costa Rica, Chile<\/u><\/a>\u00a0and other countries. But October will mark its true acid test,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.economist.com\/the-americas\/2026\/08\/06\/amid-foreign-interference-brazils-election-kicks-off-with-a-whimper\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>as Brazil<\/u><\/a>, Latin America\u2019s largest country, decides whether to opt for the right or hand a fourth victory to leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Making the new Monroe Doctrine work its magic again will be difficult but not impossible. The leftist dictatorships in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amnesty.org\/en\/location\/americas\/central-america-and-the-caribbean\/cuba\/report-cuba\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>Cuba<\/u><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/news.un.org\/en\/story\/2026\/07\/1167999\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>Nicaragua<\/u><\/a>\u00a0and <a href=\"https:\/\/hrf.org\/latest\/venezuelas-systemic-repression-us-targets-cuba-azerbaijan-denies-medical-care\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>Venezuela<\/u><\/a>\u00a0have made the task somewhat easier, serving as an immediate reflection of what Lula\u2019s allies have done to their respective countries.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr1_ab\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>Although the relationship between the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/news\/2026\/6\/3\/lula-says-brazil-cannot-accept-treatment-after-new-us-tariffs-proposed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>U.S. and Brazil<\/u><\/a>\u00a0is currently at a low point, in September 2025, President Trump sought to try a new approach and extended an olive branch to Lula. Following a brief meeting, he stated that there was good chemistry between the two. But that chemistry was short-lived.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In early May, Lula\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/5868388-trump-lula-bilateral-meeting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>visited<\/u><\/a>\u00a0Trump at the White House. It was a three-hour, closed-door meeting with no press present \u2014 an effort to avoid another \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-zelenskyy-vance-transcript-oval-office-80685f5727628c64065da81525f8f0cf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Zelensky effect<\/a>\u201d incident. Nevertheless, the results of the meeting would become apparent weeks later.<\/p>\n<p>In late May, Secretary of State Marco Rubio\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SecRubio\/status\/2060119225176404134\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">dealt a heavy blow<\/a> to the Brazilian leader: The Primeiro Comando da Capital and Comando Vermelho criminal groups were designated as foreign terrorist organizations and specially designated global terrorists.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>For Lula, the announcement was\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/americas\/brazil-rejects-us-designation-criminal-gangs-terrorists-2026-05-29\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>tantamount to<\/u><\/a>\u00a0a declaration of war. According to his theory, this designation paves the way for a potential U.S. armed intervention under the guise of combating drug trafficking and international terrorism \u2014 much like the operation that led to the removal of Nicolas Maduro.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In July, the situation worsened. Rubio\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SecRubio\/status\/2077595389599830397\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>announced<\/u><\/a>\u00a0that Trump would impose 25 percent tariffs on imports from Brazil.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLet there be no confusion about why,\u201d he said. \u201cPresident Lula and his government have not negotiated with the U.S. in good faith. His economic policies are bad for Americans and bad for Brazilians.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr2_ab\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>Lula\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/americas\/lulas-approval-rises-amid-tariff-dispute-with-trump-poll-shows-2025-07-31\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>has leveraged<\/u><\/a>\u00a0pressure from U.S. tariff policies to promote a confrontational patriotic narrative, which has helped him gain ground in the polls. The latest poll places him a mere three points\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/wtvbam.com\/2026\/08\/11\/lulas-lead-over-flavio-bolsonaro-narrows-in-brazil-election-second-round-cnt-mda-poll-shows\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>behind his opponent<\/u><\/a>, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>However, in recent days, his resist-America tactic has begun to wear thin, and things have become difficult for Lula in recent weeks. President Javier Milei <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/americas\/20260727-brazil-recalls-argentina-ambassador-after-milei-insults-lula-flavio-bolsonaro-campaign-launch\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>has joined<\/u><\/a> those backing Bolsonaro and criticizing Brazil\u2019s judiciary. Lula responded by expelling the Argentine ambassador and downgrading bilateral relations to talks with less influential diplomats.<\/p>\n<p>Argentina is Brazil\u2019s neighbor, and the two nations exchange <a href=\"https:\/\/datamarnews.com\/noticias\/argentina-brazil-trade-faces-uncertainty-after-milei-lula-tensions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>$31 billion in trade<\/u><\/a>. Against this backdrop, Lula continues to tie his economy to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/asia-pacific\/xi-tells-lula-china-backs-brazil-rejecting-external-interference-xinhua-reports-2026-07-27\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>China<\/u><\/a>\u00a0\u2014 an extra-continental power and his primary trading partner.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr3_ab\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>Despite external challenges, Lula has enjoyed relative popularity at home, driven by the <a href=\"https:\/\/valorinternational.globo.com\/economy\/news\/2025\/04\/16\/lula-expands-housing-program-to-include-middle-income-families.ghtml\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>patronage associated with social programs<\/u><\/a> in health, education and housing. Conversely, his security strategy represents one of his greatest weaknesses \u2014 an issue that has determined the outcome of many elections across Latin America in recent years.<\/p>\n<p>The issue with Lula is not whether he is left-wing or right-wing. The problem is that, throughout his various terms in office, he has fostered close economic, political and even military ties with countries such as China, Russia and Iran. His administration has also defended and supported the dictatorships in Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela, despite their crimes against humanity and human rights violations.<\/p>\n<p>With the Brazilian election less than two months away, the new Monroe Doctrine faces one of its greatest challenges: whether to strengthen its commitment to allies within the Americas or allow a friend of China, Russia and Iran to win the election for a fourth time, thereby opening the hemisphere\u2019s doors to its greatest adversaries.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr4_ab\">\n<\/aside>\n<p><em>Arturo McFields is an exiled journalist, former Nicaraguan ambassador to the Organization of American States, and a former member of the Norwegian Peace Corps. He is an alumnus of the National Defense University\u2019s Security and Defense Seminar and the Harvard Leadership course.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/p>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>President Trump\u2019s new\u00a0Monroe Doctrine has tipped the scales in recent elections in\u00a0Colombia, Peru, Honduras, Costa Rica, Chile\u00a0and other countries. But October will mark its true acid test,\u00a0as Brazil, Latin America\u2019s largest country, decides whether to opt for the right or hand a fourth victory to leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.\u00a0 Making the new&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":42772,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/lula_luiz-inacio-da-silva_brazil_11192025_AP26219662666657-1.jpg?w=1280","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-42771","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-political-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42771","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=42771"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42771\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/42772"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=42771"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=42771"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=42771"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}