Podcast: U.S. Ambassador Clifford Sobel on the U.S.-Brazilian Partnership

July 10, 2008

Brazil and the United States serve as “anchors of the Western Hemisphere” because of their sizes and economies, remarked U.S. Ambassador to Brazil Clifford Sobel, who highlighted the importance of U.S.-Brazilian partnerships in the fields of energy, security, and the CEO forum that brings together ten executives from each country.

Download an mp3 of the ambassador's remarks.

In terms of biofuels, he stated that the countries—the world’s primary ethanol producers—serve as natural partners. He recognized the global public debate over biofuel production set off by the rising cost of food, but stressed the importance of finding solutions and looking head to promote renewable and environmentally friendly biofuels. Turning to the issue of security, Sobel sought to put to rest concerns over U.S. plans to reactivate its Fourth Fleet in Latin American waters. “We should have the capacity to handle natural disasters” in the region efficiently, stressed the ambassador, noting that the purpose of the fleet consists of peace, counternarcotics, and disaster response missions. On the third point, Sobel outlined the CEO forum as an initiative that seeks to strengthen competitiveness in each country.

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