In this Monday’s Freedom of Opinion section (14), journalist Boris Casoy commented on President Jair Bolsonaro’s (PL) trip to Russia for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, amid strong military tensions in the country with neighboring Ukraine.
In the last month, Russia has deployed around 100,000 troops near the border and has given indications that it could invade Ukrainian territory at any time. The threats are repulsed by member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), especially the United States, which authorized the deployment of more troops in the Eastern European region.
For Boris Casoy, at the time of scheduling the visit – made more than a year ago – the Russian crisis with NATO was still non-existent. Even so, the journalist classifies the decision not to postpone the trip by Bolsonaro and his entourage as a “very serious error”.
“Going to a country that is threatening, or is seen as threatening another country with invasion, is a very serious moment. It’s not just a moment between Russia and Ukraine, it’s a moment between Russia and its area of influence and the rest of Europe together with the United States,” she said.
Casoy recalled that Putin has already carried out an invasion of Ukraine before – when he annexed the Crimea region in 2014 – and that, this time, he is evaluating the cost-effectiveness of a new military action, having subsequently faced “minimal consequences”. “This time, the US and NATO are speaking out louder, threatening massive retaliation,” he said.
The commentator also considers that Bolsonaro’s presence and statements put Brazil in a “very uncomfortable” position of reading support for a country considered an aggressor, highlighting the Russian “imperialist strategy” in relation to border territories.
“Brazil does not have to get involved in this story. You have to have very good trade relations with Russia, with Ukraine, with NATO, with everybody. But you can’t get involved. The presence of the president is a risk of involvement. How will Bolsonaro’s presence be read exactly at the time of the greatest tension between Russia and the West?”, he asked.
Casoy, finally, defended a more assertive stance by the Itamaraty – a ministry “respected throughout the world” –, compelling Bolsonaro to postpone the trip. “It would be nothing serious in Brazil-Russia relations… perfectly understandable. Now, we take immense risks,” he concluded.
The Freedom of Opinion had the participation of Boris Casoy and Fernando Molica. The painting airs daily on CNN.
The opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the position of the CNN or its employees.
Source: CNN Brasil
I’m James Harper, a highly experienced and accomplished news writer for World Stock Market. I have been writing in the Politics section of the website for over five years, providing readers with up-to-date and insightful information about current events in politics. My work is widely read and respected by many industry professionals as well as laymen.
