'Trump of the Tropics' meets 'Bolsonaro of the North'

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Europe

Such are the similarities between Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and U.S. counterpart Donald Trump that each has earned a nickname related to the other.

"Trump of the Tropics" wasn't intended as a compliment to Bolsonaro when it entered popular use during the 2018 Brazilian election, but the moniker has stuck and been embraced by the president's supporters.

Whether Trump is as keen on being dubbed "Bolsonaro of the North" – as National Security Advisor John Bolton called the president in a weekend interview – is less clear, but on Tuesday the right-wing populist leaders will come face-to-face for the first time in an eagerly-awaited White House meeting.

Bolsonaro's first trip abroad for a bilateral meeting since taking over as president in January is a sign of his desire to strike a new alliance between Brazil and the United States, the two largest economies and most populous nations in the Americas.

"For the first time in a while, a pro-America Brazilian President arrives in DC," Bolsonaro tweeted as his trip began on Sunday. "It's the beginning of a partnership focused on liberty and prosperity – something that all of us Brazilians have long wished for."

Since touching down in Washington, Bolsonaro has already made an impression. He made a rare visit to the CIA headquarters on Monday, agreed to end visa requirements for U.S. tourists visiting Brazil, and signed off on a deal that could allow the U.S. use of Brazil's Alcantara space launch base.

An agreement was inked to protect U.S. space and defense technology, but it needs to be ratified by Brazil's Congress before American companies can use Alcantara to launch satellites.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro (R) and former Trump strategist Steve Bannon at the Brazilian embassy in Washington DC, United States, March 17, 2019. /VCG Photo

The Brazilian president also dined with former Trump strategist Steve Bannon at a conservative influencers event on Sunday evening. Bolsonaro's son, Eduardo, is the Latin American representative for Bannon's populist network "Movement."

Bolsonaro will hold private talks with Trump on Tuesday before a joint press conference in the White House Rose Garden. Given their respective preference for tough-talk and mutual admiration, the joint appearance is particularly eagerly awaited.

The leaders share a love for communicating through social media, calling out "fake news" and both registered surprise election victories on rightwing populist platforms.

They are on the same page in their stance towards Venezuela, which borders Brazil, and their comments on the issue at the press conference will be closely watched.

Both men have promised to move their respective embassies in Israel to Jerusalem, and hold a mutual skepticism towards multilateralism.

Trump has said he will take the U.S. out of the Paris climate deal, while Bolsonaro has suggested he could lead Brazil out of the agreement, too.

Other items under discussion are expected to include Brazil's push to enter the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development, trade and investment ties, defense cooperation, and combating transnational crime.