World
Scholar says US demands on Brazil fit broader strategy of political pressure in the region
Oliver Stuenkel argued that Washington’s 52-point list in the tariff talks with Brazil went beyond trade. In his view, it is part of a wider effort to influence elections and domestic decisions across Latin America.
Brazil rejected a list of 52 demands from the United States in talks aimed at reversing tariffs, including a request that so-called political dissidents be allowed to run in the 2026 elections. The proposal was first reported by O Estado de S. Paulo and, according to O Globo, later confirmed by GloboNews through diplomatic sources.
According to O Globo, Oliver Stuenkel, a professor of International Relations at FGV and a researcher at the Carnegie Endowment, said the document shows the Trump administration using tariff policy for goals that extend beyond trade. In his assessment, the Brazilian case is part of a broader strategy to pressure political and electoral processes across Latin America.
Stuenkel said, in remarks cited by O Globo, that the episode should not be seen as isolated. He pointed to Argentina and Honduras as examples. In Argentina, he said Trump signaled support for one side during last year’s legislative election and warned that US assistance might not continue if the political camp opposed to Javier Milei prevailed. On Honduras, he said Trump threatened a serious bilateral crisis if Nasry Asfura was not elected.
The researcher also said Washington’s pressure has extended to domestic policy decisions in other countries. He cited Peru, which he said faced pressure to exclude Chinese actors from control of a strategic port, and Panama, which he said was pressed to remove Chinese companies operating ports in the canal.
Outside Latin America, Stuenkel mentioned Germany, Australia and Canada. As reported by O Globo, he said US Vice President J.D. Vance made clear before the German election that Washington favored AfD, while in Australia and Canada the pressure appears to have backfired and hurt candidates aligned with Trump.
Against that backdrop, Brazil’s government said political, judicial and sovereignty issues were not part of the negotiations with Washington.
Sources
About this piece. Written by El Notero with AI assistance, from reporting published by the outlet cited above. El Notero did no original reporting on this story.
