Trump notifies Congress to designate Brazil as Major Non-NATO Ally

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday formally notified U.S. Congress his intent to designate Brazil as a Major Non-NATO Ally, according to the White House.

U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro during a joint press conference in the Rose Garden at the White House on March 19, 2019 in Washington, DC. [Photo: AFP/Jim Watson]

"I am making this designation in recognition of the Government of Brazil's recent commitments to increase defense cooperation with the United States, and in recognition of our own national interest in deepening our defense coordination with Brazil," Trump wrote in a letter to the Congress

Trump announced his intention to upgrade the status of U.S.-Brazil security relationship during his meeting with visiting Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in March in Washington.

The designation would give Brazil preferential access to certain kinds of U.S. military assistance, including purchasing excess defense articles and participating in cooperative defense research and development projects.