Autonomy or alignment? The US-Brazil relationship in a changing world order

U.S.-Brazil relations are deep and complex, and issues that strain and motivate the relationship are enduring. The context in which these issues are set, however, has changed dramatically and rapidly. That is true for issues of democracy and governance; climate change; crime; and sustainable development -- in each case, both domestic and international trends have accentuated the challenges. Both sides will need to adapt if the relationship can advance. But there's this challenge too: the two countries view very differently the evolving international order, especially around the role of China. If Brazil wants to advance its global ambitions, it has to update its understanding of the geopolitical dynamic it finds itself in. Similarly, if Washington wants a closer relationship with Brazil, it will have to eschew any aspiration for pulling Brazil into an anti-China coalition, and recognize that an autonomous Brazil -- one that makes meaningful contributions to regional security, climate change, and global food security -- can help advance a stable international order.