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Ernesto Araujo and Russia: How The Brazilian Ex-Chancellor's Ideas Influenced Bilateral Relations between Brasilia and Moscow?
Relations between Brazil and Russia decelerated significantly during the tenure of Brazilian
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ernesto Araujo, from January 2019 until March 2021. This article
maintains that the former chancellor’s ideas had a direct impact in the relative stagnation of
Russian-Brazilian ties. Araujo’s interpretation of the international reality is heavily influenced by
the ideas of Brazilian right-wing ideologue Olavo de Carvalho, which frames Russia as a Chinese
ally in the pursue of a global communist hegemony. According to Keohane and Goldstein, ideas are
an important determinant of foreign policy-making and provide ethical and moral motivation for
pursuing a given policy course. The article determines how Araujo’s ideas reflected in his foreign
policy in general, and in Brazilian-Russian relations in particular. The research concludes that
Araujo led a values-based and ideological foreign policy, which deviates significantly from the
pragmatic tradition of Brazilian diplomacy, with critical consequences for the development of
bilateral relations with the Russian Federation during his tenure.