The President of the United States, Donald Trump, said this Wednesday (11) that he believes that Brazil was invited to participate in the summit to launch the “Shield of the Americas”, held this weekend in Florida, but stated that the country may not have attended due to its own decision.
The statement was made after a reporter questioned the president during a press conference in the White House garden about the absence of Brazil, Mexico and Colombia at the meeting held in the city of Doral.
“I think they were invited. Maybe they didn’t come. I think they were. I get along very well with all of them,” Trump responded.
The summit that launched the “Shield of the Americas” brought together Latin American leaders – including the presidents of Argentina, Ecuador and Paraguay. The shield enables joint military actions between countries participating in the initiative against drug trafficking and organized crime in the region. The White House states that 17 Latin American countries should participate in the shield. Brazil, Colombia and Mexico did not participate in the meeting and, therefore, did not sign the declaration to participate in the shield.
Trump’s speech comes amid information that the White House is considering classifying the Brazilian factions Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and Comando Vermelho (CV) as foreign terrorist organizations, a measure that has generated concern in the Lula government.
In response to Trump, the president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, stated on his X account that neither his country nor Brazil and Mexico were invited to the summit.
“Neither Colombia, Brazil, nor Mexico were invited,” he wrote. “I think there is a cordless phone again,” he said.
A People’s Gazette contacted Itamaraty to comment on the American president’s speech, but did not receive a response until the publication of this article. The content will be updated if there is positioning.
