Brazil Flexes Muscles over Honduras Crisis

For nearly all of Brazil's history in which quiet diplomacy has been its tradition, the central government has favored a quiet diplomatic approach. Now, the country’s emerging economic clout and the popularity of President Lula's regime has freed the government to push its will in foreign affairs. With the political strife in Honduras and ousted Honduran leader Manuel Zelaya seeking refuge within the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa, Brazil has been thrust into a high profile role in regional politics. Thus far, Lula appears to be playing his cards right, managing to get concessions from the coup leaders to allow a visiting delegation featuring members of the Organization of American States. Still, Lula must tread carefully to maintain his popularity with the lower classes and the regions disparate leaders from Hugo Chavez to Barack Obama. While successes like landing where the 2016 Summer Olympics are celebrated, other goals like securing a permanent seat on the UN Security Council and stepped up peacekeeping efforts in the region have led to criticism from politicians who equate these efforts with the unfavorable history of US intervention, with Brazil labeled “new gringos.” As its regional and, indeed, global presence increases, Lula and his administration will be hard-pressed to maintain favorable relations with any and every nation and show that it has matured as a global power. – YaleGlobal