RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The president of the United States, Donald Trump, said on Friday, August 23rd, that he has volunteered to help Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro fight fires in the Amazon. Through social media, Trump also said that he discussed trade with Brazil.
“I just spoke with President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil. Our trade expectations are very exciting, and our relationship is strong, perhaps stronger than ever,” he wrote.
“I told him that if the United States can help with the fires in the Amazon rainforest, we will be ready to help,” he said.
“Just spoke with president @JairBolsonaro of Brazil. Our future trade prospects are very exciting, and our relationship is strong, perhaps stronger than ever before. I told him if the United States can help with the Amazon Rainforest fires, we stand ready to assist!”
In a statement sent to TV Globo, the U.S. State Department confirmed that it is ready to consider any request for help from Brazil. So far, according to the U.S. government, there has been no such request.
Late yesterday afternoon, the Brazilian president authorized the deployment of the military forces to fight the fires in the Amazon.
Bolsonaro said on Twitter that Trump was available to help protect the Amazon and fight forest fires, “if we so wish, as well as to work together for an environmental policy that is respectful of the countries’ sovereignty.”
“Relations between Brazil and the United States are better than ever. We share the common ambition to engage in a major trade negotiation soon to boost the prosperity of our peoples,” added Bolsonaro.
Earlier this Friday, the U.S. government said it was “deeply concerned” about the fires in the Amazon, through a White House official who remained anonymous. The government official said the Americans are concerned about the “impact of the fires in the Amazon rainforest on communities, biodiversity, and the region’s natural resources.”
This initial U.S. reaction to the situation in the Amazon followed the speech of other leaders who have been commenting on the issue since Thursday. Angela Merkel, from Germany; Emmanuel Macron, from France; Boris Johnson, from the United Kingdom; and Justin Trudeau, from Canada, have commented directly or through spokespeople.