By Paulo Trevisani
BRASILIA--Vice President Joe Biden said Tuesday he is confident
Brazil and the U.S. can restore good relations after allegations
last year the U.S. had spied on its southern ally.
Mr. Biden arrived at Brazil's presidential palace in the morning
for a meeting with President Dilma Rousseff, after attending the
U.S.-Ghana World Cup match in the northern Brazilian city of Natal
on Monday night.
He is also expected to meet with Brazilian Vice President Michel
Temer during his visit.
Brazil-U.S. relations where shaken last year after former
National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden leaked documents
indicating the NSA was spying on Brazilian citizens and companies,
including President Rousseff and oil-giant Petroleo Brasileiro SA,
or Petrobras.
Mr. Biden spoke briefly to reporters upon arriving at the
palace, noting the U.S. team won the match against Ghana.
In response to a question shouted to him about whether the two
countries' relations could be restored, he responded "I'm confident
they can."
Ms. Rousseff last year canceled a state visit to Washington,
D.C. scheduled for October, amid concern the spying allegations
would take over the agenda if she went.
Mr. Biden's meetings with Ms. Rousseff and with Mr. Temer both
will be closed to the press, but the U.S. vice president will make
a statement to reporters after the meeting, one of his aides
said.
Write to Paulo Trevisani at paulo.trevisani@wsj.com
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