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During the week of November 10th,  President Shimon Peres took the fight against Iran’s growing nuclear program across seas and continents to Brazil. A modest friend of Ahmadinejad’s regime, Brazil is scheduled to host the Iranian President in late November. As South America’s largest country, Brazil can play a crucial part in deciding how far Iranian presence reaches in the Americas. What was once America’s proverbial backyard has become a coalition of extreme left-wing states whose leaders, such as Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez, have all too much in common with the anti-American and anti-Semitic leadership in Iran.

As Brazil is transforming from a regional to a global economic powerhouse, which side it chooses to ally itself with will have a tremendous impact. Amidst growing fears that Brazil, the world’s sixth largest producer of uranium, will look to be an attractive business partner and ally to Ahmadinejad, the timing of the Israeli President’s trip is not to be ignored. By preempting such a discussion with the first state visit by an Israeli president to Brazil in 40 years, Israel had hoped to discourage Brazil from hosting, let alone dealing, with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Unfortunately, Ahmadinejad’s visit will likely take place, despite objections from not only the West but also Brazil’s sizeable Jewish population.

The proposed visit by current Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas signals that Brazil is trying to put itself at the center for the peace negotiation process. While their international clout is sure to increase as a result of such high profile visits, they appear more interested in using their newfound popularity to gain allies rather than push countries away. Israel might not take Brazilian leader Lula da Silva seriously as a moderator for the peace process if they also decide to strike nuclear trade agreements with Iran.

For more information go to:   President Shimon Peres on state visit to Brazil and Argentina (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

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