Iranian Warships Docking in Latin America Reflects New Axis of Power, Analysts Say

Iran seems to be reaffirming its claims to have warships in Panama Canal by 2023. Analysts say however that this is just the beginning.

Brazil granted two Iranian warships permission to anchor off Rio de Janeiro’s beaches. It took place from February 26 to March 4, creating a stir in democratic countries throughout the region.

Security and political experts say that the arrival of warships comes as a result of a wave of leftist leaders, which has swept Latin America recently.

Iran capitalizes on strong ties with socialist regimes throughout the region.

“The big picture here doesn’t look good,” Brazil’s former minister of foreign affairs, Ernesto Araujo, told The Epoch Times.

Araujo expressed concern at seeing his homeland open the doors to Iranian warships. “I’m very concerned as a Brazilian and as someone who has an idea of what Iran is up to in the world.”

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva—commonly known as Lula—embraced the arrival of the vessels IRIS Makran and IRIS Dena on Feb. 26 after more than a month’s delay.

Lula’s planned visit to the U.S. President Joe Biden in January was not a coincident.

The ministry of defense in Brazil has documentation that shows these warships are originally built. authorized To enter Rio de Janeiro’s port on the same day that Lula’s Biden visit.

U.S. Department of Treasury sanctioned On February 3, both the Makran (and the Dena) were denied entry to Brazilian waters. Washington also pressured Lula on February 3rd to block the vessels from entering Brazilian waters.

Lula allowed port entry for the ships. Even more, his administration doubled down and attended a party aboard the Dena on February 28.

Araujo claimed that several high-ranking officials from Brazil’s Lula regime were present at the event. This was according to a local media report. confirmed. This party celebrated 120 years of diplomatic relations between Iran, Brazil.

Washington knew about Iran’s plans to place warships within America’s borders.

In January, naval Rear Admiral Shahram Irani told the Tehran Times that Iran’s military would station warships at the Panama Canal before the end of the year. Irani stated that the move is intended to “strengthen our maritime presence in international waters.”

“The army navy has been present in all the strategic straits in the world to date, and we have not been present in only two straits. We will be present in one of these straits this year … We are planning to be present in the Panama Canal,” Irani asserted.

Araujo doesn’t seem to be the only Brazilian politician not disapproving of the unexpected arrival Iranian warships into Brazilian waters.

An interview The Epoch Times – Former President Jairbolsonaro stated, “If I were president, these warships would not be there.”

However, even though the Lula administration clearly ignored U.S. security concerns, America’s response was mostly neutral.

Ned Price, State Department spokesperson, told The Epoch Times that he was speaking at a press conference. “Countries are going to make their own decisions. The Monroe Doctrine is a legacy of history. It is not something that the United States espouses.”

Brazil price noted “close democratic partner of the United States,” But there was more “warships like these have no place in the Western hemisphere, given the signal it sends.”

“We want to continue to work with our Brazilian partners to send the right message to Iran, to others who would pose a threat, pose a challenge to our collective interests around the world,” Prices not stated.

Price evaded the question when asked if Brazil was subject to U.S. sanction for hosting Dena and Makran.

Regional security experts say that a muted response from the Biden administration and U.S. sanction will not hinder Iran’s efforts to join the West.

“Make no mistake, Iran is challenging [the] U.S. at home, on its own turf,”  Irina Tsukerman, security analyst and the owner of Scarab Rising, told The Epoch Times.

“This ship in Panama signals Iran’s expanding reach, not only in terms of physical relations with these countries but its willingness to chase [the] United States out of its own neighboring vicinity,” Tsukerman said.

“It’s a demonstration of Iran’s growing influence and U.S. weakness and receding impact.”

Iran will do more than simply pay an annual fee, she said. “occasional visit” for the future.

Regional analyst and author, Dr. Orlando Gutierrez-Boronat, agrees the arrival of Iranian warships is the harbinger of something bigger.

These include a shifting of geopolitical priorities within the region.

“There is an evident process of institutionalization of Iran’s geopolitical presence in Latin America,” Boronat shared his thoughts with The Epoch Times.

Step by step

Since decades, Iran has fostered alliances and cooperation with Latin America’s sympathetic regimes.

These include supporting leftist politicians’ election campaigns and building nuclear reactors in socialist countries.

In 2012, the U.S. Senate assembled. noted The security alarm was raised when Iran gained more influence over Latin America.

Iran is particularly friendly to those countries who are pressuring for outside investment and humanitarian assistance, like Venezuela, Ecuador and Venezuela.

The report referred to Iran’s relations with Latin American countries in the region. “serious concern.”

“Iran has developed, in the last two decades, a clear strategy towards Latin America,” Boronat stated. “The presence of Iran in Venezuela has occurred through a very solid commercial and financial exchange.”

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro demanded a reorganization of the country’s government during a January announcement. “consolidation” A new geopolitical power is emerging and regional integration will be a priority.

He observed that Argentina’s and Colombia’s socialist regimes have offered support to him. “special new hour is coming to unite the efforts and paths of the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean.”

Maduro issued his proclamation Jan. 13th, the same day Brazil allowed the first Iranian warships for docking. Lula then met Biden in America.

“Iran’s economic and recruitment activity in Latin America was always geared towards building up its proxies and strengthening local leftist movements,” Tsukerman said.

“What’s new is … [Iran’s] willingness to expand its naval capabilities. Thus, for the first time, showing a capacity for endangering maritime security, potentially blocking access to ports, and putting a target on U.S. vessels and others operating in the vicinity.”

Tsukerman stated that the long-term presence of Iran in Latin America was an equivalent to Soviet missiles being deployed in Cuba.

Araujo, Brazil’s Lula believes Araujo is playing a “double game” Of all kinds. This is the political equivalent to the old saying, “Have your cake and eat it as well.”

Araujo claimed that Lula is trying. “Be on good terms with both the democratic West and the totalitarian East.”

Security Red Flags

One week before Irani boasted the arrival of warships to the Panama Canal in the coming months, Iran’s President Raisi vowed revenge for the death of the country’s general Qasem Soleimani, who was killed during a U.S. drone strike on Jan. 3, 2020.

“The Americans must know that revenge for martyr Soleimani’s blood is certain, and the murderers and perpetrators will have no easy sleep,” Raisi made these remarks during a Tehran speech.

The warships finally arrived in Brazil.

This incident highlights the growing geopolitical ambitions a confederacy authoritarian power. It includes Russia, China, Iran and China. They appear to collaborate closely with the United States to destroy the rules-based international order.

Iranian President Ebrahim Rashi visited China during February. He met Chinese Communist Party (CCP), leader Xi Jinping. Both leaders remain steadfast in supporting embattled Russian President Vladimir Putin.

China Daily is a state-owned Chinese media outlet said Xi, Raisi had discussed a time ago. “comprehensive cooperation plan” The expansion of their businesses “strategic partnership.”

This language sounds similar to the one used by CCP for Russia support.

Xi, Raisi issued At the time, there was a joint declaration calling for an end to all international sanctions against Iran and for cooperation on issues of nuclear nonproliferation. Similar, the regime has demanded International sanctions against Russia, for attempted invasion of Ukraine by it be lifted and are “illegitimate.”

These leaders are from the authoritarian power of dictatorship. said They did so last September. “promote the development of the international order in a more just and reasonable direction.”

Boronat states that America faces a variety of threats from Iran, China and Russia within its borders. All three countries have strong alliances with Latin America.

“It’s an additional challenge amid the growing tension the United States faces with autocracies and dictatorships. Today, the main battlefield for democracies is Ukraine. There, the United States faces Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea,” He said.

“They are dictatorships with nuclear potential or with the aspiration to access it. Iranian warships in the Panama Canal pose a challenge far from that battlefield and close to the United States.”