BRAZIL - US RELATIONS

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06820799
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: March 9, 2023
• Document Release Date: September 18, 2020
• Case Number: F-2017-01987
• Publication Date: March 8, 1977

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Latin America
REGIONAL AND
POLITICAL ANALYSIS
Secret-
-Secret-
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8 March 1977
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LATIN AMERICA
AMERICA
8 March 1977
CONTENTS
Brazil � US Relations
Costa Rica: Alleged Vesco Contribution
This publication is prepared for regional specialists
the Latin America Division. Office of Regional
casional contributions from other offices within
Comments and queries are welcome. They should
individual articles.
SEeftET
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in the Washington community by
and Political Analysis, with oc-
the Directorate of Intelligence.
be directed to the authors of the
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Brazil-US Relations
Leading Brazilian newspapers and a prominent member
of the opposition party have reiterated their support for
the government's position on the nuclear issue following
US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher's visit. This
reaction provides additional political benefits for Pres-
ident Geisel and probably reinforces his belief that a
refusal to suspend or alter any part of Brazil's nuclear
agreement with West Germany is the correct policy.
By holding a press conference and subsequently re-
leasing a backgrounder on the talks to a leading Brazil�
ian newspaper, Foreign Minister Silveira has taken ad-
vantage of the visit to project an image of strength and
confidence. In his remarks to the press, Silveira denied
that any negotiations had taken place, saying instead that
he had "only conversations." He also commented that from
his perspective, "everything is going well--excellent."
The backgrounder also appears to serve Silveira's purposes.
He characterized Christopher's negotiating techniques as
harsh, comparing them to those used by former Soviet for-
eign minister Molotov, and said he eventually ended the
repetitious discussions--in his words "breaking the vi-
cious circle"--by telling the US delegation that "Brazil
does not discuss changes or revisions in the agreement."
These public disclosures should also satisfy recent
press interest in more official information on the issue.
Last week the leading newspaper in Sao Paulo commenting
on the growing international pressures on Brazil had
criticized Silveira for keeping information concerning
the negotiations to a few top aides. This, the newspaper
claimed, was "creating disgust and jealousy" within the
Foreign Ministry.
While the Brazilians agreed to hold further discus-
sions with the US, this is not necessarily a major con-
cession. The bland tone and lack of substance of the
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joint statement suggest that the session was the coolest
Brazilian-US exchange since the military took power in
1964.
Meanwhile, the US press reports that Christopher
offered a guarantee of enriched fuel for the German re-
actors or, as an alternative, suggested that the enrich-
ment process be placed under international controls.
These proposals almost certainly are unacceptable to the
Geisel government since they would not reduce Brazil's
dependency on a foreign supplier for fuel--the most im-
portant goal of the Brazilian nuclear program. Geisel
also remembers that three years ago the US could not
guarantee enriched uranium fuel for Brazil. This was
the primary reason he turned to the West Germans.
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