Araújo defends relations with Israel and denies commercial losses with Arab countries.

By Daniel Mello - Reporter for Agência Brasil

Foreign Minister Ernesto Araújo said on Monday (8) that Brazil's rapprochement with Israel will not harm business with Arab countries. During a visit to the country at the end of March, President Jair Bolsonaro announced the opening of a commercial representation office in Jerusalem. "There is no indication that our rapprochement with Israel will result in commercial losses with Arab countries," he stressed during a lecture at the Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo (Fiesp).

At the opening of the event, the president of Fiesp, Paulo Skaf, emphasized the need for plurality among Brazil's trading partners. "A good relationship with the United States and Israel is fundamental, but also with the Arab countries and Mercosur," he said.

"We have been talking a lot with the Arab countries of the Middle East. We are absolutely certain that the deep relationship with Israel does not in any way mean a lesser relationship with these countries," added the Foreign Minister. Araújo said that he has been holding talks especially with the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

"We are going to start a project to, through the Emirates, gain more access to the Indian food products market. A market that is very difficult to access directly," he exemplified regarding the joint projects being established with countries in the region.

Iran

According to the minister, Brazil should also maintain good relations with Iran. "We have important trade with Iran, and we want to maintain and expand it," he emphasized. He noted, however, that the role of the Persian state is controversial. "I tried very hard to listen to the countries that are there, that are neighbors of Iran, and they have enormous concerns about its actions in the region," he said, referring to his impressions during his participation in the Ministerial Conference on the Middle East, which took place in February in Warsaw, Poland.

In this context, Brazil should act, according to Araújo, in a way that avoids friction in the Middle East. "Brazil wants to contribute to peace and stability there. We believe that our rapprochement with Arab countries can contribute to this. In this rapprochement, it is important that we understand their worldview and their concerns," he emphasized.