Brazil: Only A Pawn in China's Game?

Building a strong "strategic partnership" with China is a pillar of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio "Lula" da Silva's foreign policy. Beijing and Brasilia likely have different perceptions of the geopolitical importance of their growing partnership. Brazil perceives Beijing as a key player in a global multipolar network of regional powers aligned against U.S. hegemony. However, China sees itself someday displacing the United States as the world's foremost superpower — and Brazil is just another piece on Beijing's geopolitical chessboard.