Washington Escalates Pressure on Latin America, Revives the “Monroe Doctrine”
US President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order imposing a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports.
Trump claimed that “the policies, practices, and actions of the Brazilian government threaten the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States,” and that his administration was therefore declaring a “national emergency over this threat.”
The order also accused members of the Brazilian government of “violating” free speech and “violating human rights.”
Trump had previously warned that he would impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian products entering the United States. Aside from economic justifications, Trump cited his support for former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a staunch ally of his in Brazil, as one of his reasons for imposing tariffs.
The US president has spoken out in support of Bolsonaro, who is under house arrest for fear of attempting to flee amid investigations into him on charges of “criminal conspiracy” and “coup d’état.” The term “witch hunt” refers to the unjust and politically motivated prosecution of those accused without sufficient evidence simply because they are perceived as a threat by the ruling power.
The US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control also added Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes to its sanctions list. The move came days after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered the visas of the prominent Brazilian judge and his colleagues, including his family members, to be revoked.
This is part of a campaign that the US State Department has launched in recent weeks, through its embassies, in countries that are ideologically opposed to Washington, including Colombia, Cuba, and Venezuela.