'USA intends to designate Brazil as non-NATO ally'

The United States intends to designate Brazil as a "major" non-NATO ally, US President Donald Trump said during the joint press conference held here with his Brazilian counterpart on Tuesday (local time).

"As I told President Bolsonaro, I also intend to designate Brazil as a major non-NATO ally or even possibly, if you start thinking about it, a NATO ally. We have to talk to a lot of people, but maybe a NATO ally," Trump said.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro undertook his first official overseas visit to the United States after winning last year's Presidential elections. He has been likened to Trump due to their shared rhetoric, with the media labelling him as the "Trump of the Tropics".

While reaffirming bilateral ties, Trump heaped praises on Bolsonaro during the presser on Tuesday. Talking about his camaraderie with his Brazilian counterpart, Trump stated that the two leaders "feel very, very true to each other."

He had earlier said that he was "inclined" on pitching for Brazil to be granted NATO privileges, according to CNN.

"We're looking at it very strongly. We're very inclined to do that. The relationship we have now with Brazil has never been better," the US President had said.

Trump also called on the Venezuelan military to pledge allegiance to Juan Guaido -- the US-recognised President of the Latin American nation -- instead of siding with embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

"We call on members of the Venezuelan military to end their support for Maduro - who is really nothing more than a Cuban puppet - and finally set their people free," Trump said.