Foreign Policy Blogs

Misspellings, DVDs and a Button

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva

Gaffes by the United States in dealing with the world’s rising powers seem to be happening frequently. Joshua Keating writes an entertaining post in Foreign Policy Passport about rescheduling Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s meeting at the White House, misspelling his name and giving DVDs as a gift to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. And who can forget the reset button blunder? The mistakes, however, do not equal the positive overtures.

Relationships matter. Relationships between powerful countries will be critical for addressing and solving global problems. The United States should enjoy a strong partnership with Brazil, a rising power with regional clout. The US is somewhat notorious for ignoring Latin America, and this week’s meeting will be an opportunity to foster stronger cooperation.

Coverage of the gifts and get-togethers may seem like attempts to compare diplomacy with Facebook friends, as invites to the White House or meetings with senior officials factor into unspoken tallies and scorecards. But world leaders, experts and the broader public are trying to determine how the new US administration will prioritize its relationships (even if the US tries not to). How nations are perceived by the world and its current hegemon is important and protocol is relevant in the world of diplomacy. (This of course does not mean we are not guilty at times of over-analyzing the flubs and snubs.)

Photo from Marcelo Hernandez/Associated Press.

 

Author

David Kampf

David Kampf is a writer and researcher based in Washington, DC. He is also a columnist for Asia Chronicle. He analyzes international politics, foreign policy and economic development, and his pieces have appeared in various publications, including China Rights Forum, African Security Review and World Politics Review. Recently, he directed communications for the U.S. Agency for International Development and President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief in Rwanda. Prior to living in East Africa, he worked in China and studied in Brazil, India and South Africa.

Area of Focus
International Politics; Foreign Affairs; Economic Development

Contact