☀ Domingo Brief — Ortega’s SICA Debacle

Welcome back to the Domingo Brief! This week, we’re keeping up with Lula’s visit to Vietnam, Ecuador’s new security dealings, and more.

Trivia of the Week 🎯

An impressive 62% of you correctly guessed Getúlio Vargas as the Latin American president who died by suicide. Often cited as the most influential Brazilian politician of the 20th century, Vargas served as President of Brazil on two occasions, from 1930-1945 and from 1951 until his suicide in 1954. The suicide took place amidst a political crisis in which members of his personal guard attempted to assassinate chief opposition leader Carlos Lacerda, sparking anger and calls for resignation among the Brazilian military. Unable to manage the situation, Vargas shot himself in the chest with a pistol at the famous Catete Palace in Rio de Janeiro. His deathbed note led to a great resurgence of mass support, allowing for a rapid return of his followers to power.

Each week, tune back in for the answer to the previous week’s trivia question. No cheating!

🇧🇷 President Lula Da Silva has announced he will visit Vietnam next week, bringing executives from plane-maker Embraer and meatpacking giant JBS to cement potential deals in this leading Southeast Asian market. The two countries are expected to discuss action plans on defense, agriculture, and energy, boosting trade on major Brazilian exports like ethanol and beef. Lula will also likely court Vietnam to attend a BRICS summit in Brazil in July, noting Vietnam was invited to become a BRICS member last year but has so far refrained from taking an official position.

🇪🇨 President Daniel Noboa has announced an alliance with United States-based private security company Blackwater as he attempts to strengthen the country’s security capabilities against narcoterrorism and protect its maritime space from illegal fishing. Ecuador has one of the highest homicide rates in the world, while local authorities have largely been infiltrated by organized crime. This decision comes as Noboa attempts to put a lid on the country’s barreling crime wave ahead of a tight presidential runoff election against opposition leader Luisa Gonzalez.

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