IPRIS

By Pedro Seabra

The first trip abroad for any newly-elected president usually holds an added symbolism and brings with it an important political message that will probably mark a country's foreign agenda for the duration of an entire term. With such a distinction, one intends to make a statement that will surely produce ramifications at any diplomatic level, with particular resonance in the surrounding region.

What, then, can be said about Colombian President Juan Manuel dos Santos' first official trip to Brazil? First and foremost, it shouldn't exactly come as a surprise. True, the past years have shown a preference by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio 'Lula' da Silva for Colombia's old foe, Hugo Chávez. But in reality, the former has always refrained from publicly supporting the Venezuelan President in the endless row of public spats with former President Álvaro Uribe, in the name of local stability. This attitude inevitably led to a middle-ground positioning which gave Brazil enough political clout to end up being courted by both parties. Therefore, Santos's choice has to be primarily understood as an official recognition of such a coveted status.

Secondly, security needs and trade relations easily trump any ideological differences or opposing regional views. Indeed, the porous borders of the Amazon jungle – ideal for FARC's operations – are a problem shared by both countries, and the 90% increase in trade between Brazil and Colombia in the first quarters of 2010 alone is enough to foresee an extremely favourable business environment. In that order, the benefits of close cooperation between the two countries are increasingly visible and bilateral relations are likely to continue to be deepened.

However, at the end of the day, the magnitude of this visit surpasses Colombia, for in that part of the world no one can ignore the facts: bluntly put, Brasília is now considered a full member of the restricted elite of unavoidable and mandatory political stops.

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