The United States has always seen Brazil as a significant regional powerhouse, but its perceived importance has risen in the last decade. Because of its economic strength, its hemispheric leadership and its growing geostrategic role through multilateral international forums, it has become a vital player in regional and global politics across numerous dimensions. While US recognition of Brazil’s political and economic emergence brought to the fore the question of how Washington should manage relations with Brasilia, translating this new awareness into concrete bilateral policies and partnerships remains difficult. It is unclear whether the US and Brazil will be willing and able to form a ‘special relationship’.
