Annotations for Countries: Guinea-bissau

Latin America reports on recent political and economic developments between Brazil and Africa. Brazil's booming economy is leading it to seek markets while supplies, and commodity agreements with certain African nations. While Brazilian diplomats are experiencing some success here, there are delicate political problems concerning Brazilian Portuguese ties. Portugal, the only remaining European power to hold outright colonies has been battling growing liberation movements in recent years.

Brazil, a former colony itself, won its independence peacefully in the 19th century, largely because of Napoleonic Wars racking the European continent. Now, Brazil seems to have eclipsed its mother country economically, but politically the two remain on the same level. Both countries are ruled by extremely repressive dictatorships.

Some members of the African Independence Movement fear actual military involvement by Brazil and Guinea-Bissau, the colony in which Portugal seems closest to military defeat. They report that Brazilian officers in Portuguese uniforms were detected in Guinea and Cabo Verde last November. Further evidence was provided by opposition groups in Portugal who reported on conversations between Brazilian officers and the Portuguese authorities in Lisbon. One concrete suggestion is believed to have been that Brazil and Portugal should establish a joint naval base in the Cabo Verde Islands. This from the British News Weekly, Latin America. 

African liberation struggles and the oil crisis will soon be felt in Latin America. And from Latin America, a British weekly journal, comes a report by an African diplomat who said that in deciding to mount a common front against Zionist expansions and colonial racism in Africa, the organization of Arab Unity has planted the basis for a nationalist movement for the colonial peoples, which will transcend the frontiers of Africa and the Middle East. 

The same diplomat said that the Arab states, which were not members of the OAU, had requested that Nigeria deal on its own account with the question of oil supplies to Brazil, since Brazil was outside the limits of the African continent. In the view of some African diplomats, Nigeria's position as a leader of the OAU and at the same time, the world's eighth-largest exporter of oil must inevitably lead it into conflict with the Brazilian government. 

Brazil is one of the largest importers of Nigerian oil and one of the biggest investors in the development of the Portuguese colonial territories in Angola and Mozambique. Last year, not only did Brazil negotiate still closer economic ties with Portugal, but the Bank of Brazil also opened branches in Portugal's African possessions. Some observers believe that Nigeria is now on the verge of giving an ultimatum to Brazil. Either Brazil openly proclaimed support for the national liberation movements in Africa, including the recognition of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau proclaimed on 24th of December. 

Or Brazil will be included in the oil embargo against Portugal and the other colonialist countries. The Brazilian foreign ministry has already indicated its concern at the decisions taken at the OAU meeting and their implications for Brazil. Last week, government sources in Brasilia warned of increases in the price of petroleum derivatives and Petrobras included increased the price of petrol by 10%. 

The result of an oil embargo for Brazil in the view of most observers could be to bring current development plans to a complete stop. Although a large part of Brazil's energy demands are met by hydroelectric power, it has no other effective energy sources. Its coal reserves are comparatively small and of poor quality. While the development of a nuclear energy is still in its infancy. With the switch away from prospecting for local oil reserves to dependence on foreign supplies, Brazil appears to have placed itself in a highly vulnerable position. 

The whole of the current development program is to a greater or lesser extent dependent upon petroleum, and the loss of Nigerian oil could not be easily made up from other sources. If Nigeria does give Brazil an ultimatum, the Brazilians might find themselves having to consider reversing their well-established policy of support for Portugal. In view of the blood ties that exist between the two countries, the implications of such a decision could be profound and cause even more dissatisfaction within Brazil. 

The British weekly Latin America reports that the recent coup in Portugal has helped resolve some policy differences between Portugal and Brazil. Portugal and Brazil had previously split on the issue of African colonialism. Barely 24 hours after General António de Spínola's coup in Portugal, Brazil recognized the new Portuguese government. Brazil's quick recognition of General Spínola reflects her basic agreement with the new Portuguese colonial policy. Unlike his predecessor, Portugal's new leader seeks a political rather than a military solution to the wars in Portugal's African colonies. Brazil has urged such a political settlement on Portugal for some time. 

Latin America mentions two reasons for Brazil's advocacy of a peaceful solution in Africa. First, a mission of high-ranking Brazilian military officers visited the Portuguese colonies in Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde towards the end of 1972. The Brazilian officers concluded that no military victory was possible for the Portuguese troops against the independence movements. The second reason Brazil supports a political solution in Africa stems from her need of African markets and natural resources.

When the oil crisis hit, the Brazilians became anxious to secure oil agreements with Nigeria and Libya. The Brazilians feared a possible African and Arabian oil boycott if Brazil continued to support Portugal's African colonial policy. To guarantee herself oil sources, Brazil repudiated African colonialism earlier this year. It could well be that Brazil's policy shift actually helped to precipitate the Portuguese political crisis. This from the British Weekly Latin America. 

The British weekly Latin America reports that the recent coup in Portugal has helped resolve some policy differences between Portugal and Brazil. Portugal and Brazil had previously split on the issue of African colonialism. Barely 24 hours after General António de Spínola's coup in Portugal, Brazil recognized the new Portuguese government. Brazil's quick recognition of General Spínola reflects her basic agreement with the new Portuguese colonial policy. Unlike his predecessor, Portugal's new leader seeks a political rather than a military solution to the wars in Portugal's African colonies. Brazil has urged such a political settlement on Portugal for some time. 

Latin America mentions two reasons for Brazil's advocacy of a peaceful solution in Africa. First, a mission of high-ranking Brazilian military officers visited the Portuguese colonies in Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde towards the end of 1972. The Brazilian officers concluded that no military victory was possible for the Portuguese troops against the independence movements. The second reason Brazil supports a political solution in Africa stems from her need of African markets and natural resources.

When the oil crisis hit, the Brazilians became anxious to secure oil agreements with Nigeria and Libya. The Brazilians feared a possible African and Arabian oil boycott if Brazil continued to support Portugal's African colonial policy. To guarantee herself oil sources, Brazil repudiated African colonialism earlier this year. It could well be that Brazil's policy shift actually helped to precipitate the Portuguese political crisis. This from the British Weekly Latin America.