Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff postponed a long-planned
state visit to Washington on Tuesday, the most serious diplomatic fall-out yet
from Edward Snowden’s leak of US secrets.
state visit to Washington on Tuesday, the most serious diplomatic fall-out yet
from Edward Snowden’s leak of US secrets.
While both sides couched the cancellation in diplomatic terms,
it marks an embarrassment for President Barack Obama and a blow to his efforts
to improve ties with the key Latin American power.
it marks an embarrassment for President Barack Obama and a blow to his efforts
to improve ties with the key Latin American power.
The visit had been scheduled for October 23 but was called into
question after documents leaked by Snowden, a former US intelligence
technician, revealed the extent of American spying on its Brazilian ally.
question after documents leaked by Snowden, a former US intelligence
technician, revealed the extent of American spying on its Brazilian ally.
Obama has been trying to defuse the row, most recently during
talks with Rousseff on the sidelines of this month’s G20 summit, and he spoke
with her again on Monday by telephone.
talks with Rousseff on the sidelines of this month’s G20 summit, and he spoke
with her again on Monday by telephone.
But Brazil was unmoved, and on Tuesday Rousseff brought an end
to the speculation, confirming that her trip was off.
to the speculation, confirming that her trip was off.
“The two presidents decided to postpone the state visit since
the outcome of this visit should not be conditioned on an issue which for
Brazil has not been satisfactorily resolved,” Rousseff’s office said.
the outcome of this visit should not be conditioned on an issue which for
Brazil has not been satisfactorily resolved,” Rousseff’s office said.
Her statement reflected Brazil’s anger over Snowden’s
disclosures that the NSA spied on her email communications and on the state-run
energy giant Petrobras.
disclosures that the NSA spied on her email communications and on the state-run
energy giant Petrobras.
“The illegal interceptions of communications and data of
citizens, companies and members of the Brazilian government represents a
serious act which violates national sovereignty and is incompatible with
democratic coexistence between friendly countries,” Rousseff’s statement said.
citizens, companies and members of the Brazilian government represents a
serious act which violates national sovereignty and is incompatible with
democratic coexistence between friendly countries,” Rousseff’s statement said.
In Washington, White House spokesman Jay Carney, put a brave
face on the situation.
face on the situation.
“It’s because the relationship is so important and because it
has so many facets that the president agrees with this decision they made
together to postpone the visit,” Carney said.
has so many facets that the president agrees with this decision they made
together to postpone the visit,” Carney said.
Insisting that another later visit could be organised, Carney
added: “It should not be overshadowed by a bilateral issue no matter how
important or challenging the issue may be.”
added: “It should not be overshadowed by a bilateral issue no matter how
important or challenging the issue may be.”
The spying row stems from allegations made by Snowden, a former
NSA contractor who fled the United States and revealed the scope of the NSA’s
activities to Brazil-based journalist Glenn Greenwald.
NSA contractor who fled the United States and revealed the scope of the NSA’s
activities to Brazil-based journalist Glenn Greenwald.
In July, the Brazilian daily Globo, citing documents provided by
Snowden, who has been granted temporary asylum in Russia, reported that US
agencies eavesdrop on Brazilians’ phone calls and Internet communications.
Snowden, who has been granted temporary asylum in Russia, reported that US
agencies eavesdrop on Brazilians’ phone calls and Internet communications.
The report said Washington maintained an intelligence base in
Brasilia, part of a network of 16 such stations operated by the NSA around the world
to intercept foreign satellite transmissions.
Brasilia, part of a network of 16 such stations operated by the NSA around the world
to intercept foreign satellite transmissions.
Brazilian Communications Minister Paulo Bernardo dismissed
claims by US officials that the NSA was only collecting metadata — logs of
phone numbers called and the duration of such calls — and not listening in on
calls.
claims by US officials that the NSA was only collecting metadata — logs of
phone numbers called and the duration of such calls — and not listening in on
calls.
Washington, he said, is conducting a “much deeper surveillance.”
