Analysis argues Trump's hemisphere ambitions could make Brazil's election a prize for the US

A Guardian opinion column by Steve Bloomfield examines what it describes as President Donald Trump's ambitions to reassert American influence across the Western Hemisphere, suggesting Brazil's presidential election could become a significant test case.

The piece notes that Trump's second term has been marked by a number of setbacks in foreign policy elsewhere, including what the author characterizes as failed wars and failed peace efforts, but argues Latin America represents an area where the administration has pursued a more assertive strategy.

According to the column, the US administration's national security strategy explicitly calls for restoring "American preeminence in the Western Hemisphere," a goal the piece describes as a notably direct statement of intent regarding the region.

The author argues that US involvement could influence the outcome of Brazil's election in favor of right-wing candidates, while also noting that domestic concerns such as curbing gang violence are what most Brazilian voters say they care about most, suggesting a possible mismatch between Washington's priorities and the concerns of Brazilian voters.

As an opinion piece, the column offers the author's own analysis and interpretation of US strategy toward the region rather than a straight news report, amid the broader context of Brazil's closely watched presidential election.