Trump, Bolsonaro discuss free trade, China during G20

By Vakkas Dogantekin

ANKARA (AA) - U.S. President Donald Trump Thursday promised to pay an official visit to Brazil after meeting Latin American country's President Jair Bolsonaro on the sidelines of G20 summit in Osaka, Japan.

In a joint press conference, Trump did not say when he would visit but did not hesitate to generously praise the country's assets and leadership.

Bolsonaro said he supports the re-election campaign of Trump, another sign of increasingly warming relations between the two administrations.

He also emphasized that a free trade agreement is needed between the two countries.

Trump and Bolsonaro also discussed China’s growing influence in Latin America.

Trump looks forward to finding a trade agreement that would bury the tariff war between the U.S and China ahead of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping Saturday.

Trump said he is optimistic about the outcome of the meeting.

"We'll see what happens tomorrow. It will be a very exciting day, I'm sure of it," said Trump.

"It's going to work out for both countries," Trump added.

- Brazil-US relations

Bolsonaro visited the White House in March and the two leaders did not hide their mutual admiration.

At the time, Trump said he is intent on designating Brazil as a "major non-NATO ally," a status upgrade the Latin American nation has been seeking for some time.

Trump further teased during a joint press conference with Bolsonaro at the White House that he is also looking into Brazil's inclusion as a full NATO member country.

In earlier remarks Trump said the United States is looking "very strongly" at granting Brazil some NATO privileges, saying his administration is "very inclined to do that."

"We are going to look at that very, very strongly in terms of whether it’s NATO or something having to do with alliance," he said.

Should Brazil clear the lengthy process of ascension it would become the first Latin American nation to join NATO.

All of the 29 NATO allies are in North America and Europe.

The president further said he is supporting Brazil's bid to join the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, a multinational organization geared towards bolstering economic development.