Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro on Sunday visited the US Southern Command, where he signed a defense agreement with the United States enabling joint development of military capabilities, officials said.

The agreement, which was also signed by Admiral Craig Faller, the head of the Miami-based command, aims to clear the way for future joint projects "to improve or supply new military capabilities," a Brazilian defense ministry statement said.

It came a day after Donald Trump hosted Bolsonaro, a right-wing populist who identifies politically with Trump, at a dinner at Mar-a-Lago, the US president's Palm Beach, Florida resort.

Afterward, the two discussed the crisis in Venezuela and reiterated their support for opposition leader Juan Guaido, whom they recognize as that country's acting president.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Friday accused the two of plotting a conflict in Venezuela to justify a military intervention.

The US-Brazilian defense agreement "reduces bureaucratic processes" in the sale of military goods in their respective countries, the Brazilian statement said.

It said it also opens the US market to military products from Brazil, and facilitates sales to NATO member countries by the South American country.

Brazil is not a member of NATO, but the United States has designated it a major non-NATO ally.

In March 2019, the two countries signed a technology safeguards agreement enabling US space lanches from Brazil's Alcantara Launch Center.

Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro to visit Southcom, Mar-a-Lago
Washington DC (UPI) Mar 06, 2020 - Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro will visit Mar-a-Lago and U.S. Southern Command this weekend, military and White House officials confirmed on Friday.

President Donald Trump will meet Bolsonaro at Mar-a-Lago Saturday to "discuss opportunities to build a more prosperous, secure, and democratic world," according to a White House statement on the meeting.

"As leaders of the Hemisphere's two largest economies, they will also discuss opportunities for restoring democracy in Venezuela, bringing peace to the Middle East, implementing pro-growth trade policies, and investing in infrastructure. The President will use this meeting as an opportunity to thank Brazil for its strong alliance with the United States," the White House said.

On Sunday, Bolsonaro will meet with U.S. Navy Adm. Craig Faller and other command leaders to discuss the "growing defense-cooperation partnership" between the two nations and sign a bilateral agreement on research development, test and evaluation projects on new defense capabilities," according to Southcom.

The visit will mark the first time a Brazilian president has visited Southcom.

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