Brazil’s Bolsonaro says Washington approved son’s ambassador nomination

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro says the United States has formally endorsed the appointment of his son, Eduardo, as the Latin American country’s ambassador to Washington.

Bolsonaro made the announcement during a press conference at the presidential palace in the capital Brasilia on Friday, saying: “I’m delighted and I’m sure the friendly and commercial ties will be strengthened thanks to Eduardo.”

The far right leader said he had even received a letter from US President Donald Trump, written "by his own hand," approving the nomination.

The Brazilian foreign ministry also confirmed it had received an "agreement" from US authorities that would allow Bolsonaro to officially name his 35-year-old son to the post.

His appointment still needs to be approved by the Brazilian Senate according to law.

Bolsonaro declared last month that he was weighing nominating his son, a federal congressman, to become Brazil’s ambassador to the US as he seeks to strengthen ties with the administration in Washington.

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Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has confirmed that he is considering his son, a federal congressman, for the Latin American country’s ambassador to the US.

Trump later described it as "a great appointment," and praised Eduardo as "outstanding."

The US president also claimed that Eduardo’s nomination for the post would not constitute an act of nepotism.

The appointment has been met with opposition from political figures as well as ordinary people in Latin America's largest economy.

Eduardo, who has no previous diplomatic experience, heads the foreign affairs committee in the lower house of Brazil’s Congress and is an advisor to his father.

Eduardo accompanied his father to a private meeting with Trump during a diplomatic visit to Washington in March.

Bolsonaro had promised to fight cronyism as well as rampant corruption while campaigning for president last year.

The Brazilian head of state, whose rule is widely associated with far-right populism, is an ardent admirer of Trump and the White House’s policies, particularly those with regard to opposing left-wing governments in Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

The 63-year-old former Army captain, who is also known as “Tropical Trump,” has sparked controversy by following Trump on relocating his country’s embassy in Israel to the occupied Jerusalem al-Quds.

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Bolsonaro personally made the promise to Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu while he attended the Brazilian president's inauguration ceremony on January 1.

He has also said that he is open to considering the establishment of a US military base in Brazil as a way to “counter Russian influence” in neighboring Venezuela.

The move was later rejected by Brazilian Defense Minister General Fernando Azevedo e Silva.

As part of efforts to potentially facilitate the expansion of Washington’s dominance over the Latin American country, Trump has recently designated Brazil as a so-called major non-NATO ally of the United States and announced his administration was working with Brazil on a new free trade agreement that would lower tariffs.

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