The president of Brazil has visited Portugal. The errand had to do with the war in the Ukraine. Brazil has a plan. But it's a lame duck, and everyone knows it. China nixed it a few weeks ago so it won't go anywhere. However, the visit was nevertheless noteworthy.
The most striking aspect of the visit was the endless fawning and flattering that went back and forth between the two Portuguese speaking delegations. There was no end to how much they liked each other, and how much they sympathized with each other's various challenges. They also talk about Portuguese language and culture, and how it deserves a stronger position internationally.
All of this confirms observations I made more than a year ago. Portugal is pivoting towards its former colonies. While nothing of substance has happened yet, it appears that there's a plan B being formed. Should the EU fall apart, Portugal will be quick to establish closer ties with Brazil, Angola, Mozambique and other former colonies.
Once the dust settles after the Russian-Ukrainian war, we might see a large part of east and central Europe pivot east, towards the new silk road being developed by China, Russia and Iran. The influence of the old silk road stretched all the way to Germany and Italy in its days. A similar reach is not unthinkable for the new initiative.
That leaves Spain, Portugal, Holland, England and France once again semi-detached from the primary trans-Eurasia trade route, and these countries will naturally pivot the other way, towards their former colonies.
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