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FM AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRASILIA 001263 
 
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WHA FOR BSC, AND 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2019 
TAGS: PREL MARR BR CO
SUBJECT: BRAZIL: URIBE ALLAYS LULA,S CONCERNS OVER 
U.S.-COLOMBIA DCA 
 
REF: A. BRASILIA 01041 
     ¶B. BRASILIA 01084 
     ¶C. BRASILIA 01076 
 
BRASILIA 00001263  001.3 OF 002 
 
 
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¶6. (C) Jozame explained that he continues to inform the GOB 
and Latin American missions in Brasilia about the 
U.S.-Colombia DCA, in an attempt to combat the misinformation 
campaign led by Chavez and the other more left-leaning 
neighbors in the region. In meetings in August Jozame told 
PolOff he had already met with several Brazilian members of 
Congress and the leadership of the Latin American missions in 
Brasilia (Ref A). Jozame said that he had recently held a 
meeting at the Colombian Embassy with about 35 military 
attaches from embassies in Brasilia so that he and his staff 
could again clarify the details of the U.S.-Colombia DCA. 
Jozame also mentioned that a Brazilian congressional 
delegation will be traveling to Colombia, Venezuela, and 
Ecuador in November. According to Jozame, their goal in 
Colombia is to see for themselves the bases included in the 
DCA. Jozame said he is happy the Brazilians have finally 
taken the Colombians up on the invitation to visit the bases 
because all they will see at the bases are "some buildings 
and a landing strip." 
 
¶7. (C) Jozame shared his personal views as to why the 
Brazilians had such a negative initial reaction to the DCA, 
claiming that most of the problem came from the MRE which is 
"leftist" and "anti-Yankee" and "jealous" of any other 
country,s leadership in the region. Jozame said that the 
leadership in the MRE is very leftist and because of that 
they did not support greater cooperation between Colombia and 
the United States. Also, he believes Brazil is jealous 
because it does not like to have any issues negotiated or 
discussed without Brazil serving in a leadership role. 
 
¶8. (C) Comment: Lula,s open approval of the U.S.-Colombia 
DCA will make it hard for the GOB to support criticism of the 
agreement by others in the region against the agreement. 
However, as Lula admitted and several GOB officials have told 
us privately, Brazil,s initial reaction was driven by the 
reaction of others in the region "principally Venezuela" and 
by a perceived need to maintain "balance" and the ability to 
mediate between the two sides.  This dynamic is likely to 
hold sway in the future, as well, regarding issues of 
sovereignty and the sanctity of borders. 
KUBISKE