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Could Brazil Be Excluded From Swift? Understand How the System Works and What the Rules for Sanction Are. Swift Dismisses Unilateral Sanctions Against Brazilian Banks but Warns That Decisions Depend on the European Union
The question of whether Brazil could be excluded from Swift has gained traction in political circles in recent days, following rumors that the government of Donald Trump could implement direct measures against the country. However, representatives of the system confirmed in a meeting with the Ministry of Finance that any potential sanction cannot be decided unilaterally by the United States.
According to Hayden Allan, global leader of corporate affairs at Swift, the system is headquartered in Belgium and follows European legal framework. In other words, any exclusion of Brazilian banks from Swift would depend on a joint decision of the European Union (EU), and not solely on the will of a specific government. This model was already applied in 2022 when Russian banks were disconnected after the invasion of Ukraine.
What Is Swift and Why Is It So Important?
The Swift (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) is the main communication network among banks for international financial transactions. Currently, it connects 11,500 institutions in over 200 countries.
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In practice, it works like a “WhatsApp for banks,” transmitting secure messages about transfers, payments, and financial operations. It is not exclusive to the dollar, as transactions can be made in any currency agreed upon between the institutions.
Could Brazil Be Excluded From Swift?
According to the system representative, Brazil could only be cut off if there were a legal decision from the European Union, which involves multilateral negotiations. Exclusion would be considered an extreme measure, applicable only in scenarios of strong geopolitical conflict or coordinated international sanctions.
This means that rumors about automatic or unilateral sanctions from the United States are unfounded. The Executive Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Dario Durigan, emphasized that the meeting clarified: “Swift is not subject to arbitrary sanctions from specific countries”, he stated.
How Do Sanctions Work in Swift?
The most recent example was Russia in 2022, when banks from the country were removed from the system following a decision by the European Union in response to the war in Ukraine. The impact was immediate: Russian banks were virtually isolated from international trade, making payments and receipts in foreign currency difficult.
For Brazil, an exclusion would have similar effects: it would make imports more expensive, reduce the competitiveness of exports, and limit access to the global financial system. However, the current scenario shows that there is no formal movement in this direction.
Brazilian Representativeness in the System
During the meeting in Brasília, Allan highlighted that Swift has been increasing the presence of emerging countries in its governance and that there are plans to include Brazilian banks on the board of directors. This movement is seen by the government as a reinforcement of the country’s financial sovereignty.
Durigan also emphasized that Brazil is “a sovereign, democratic, and autonomous country”, and that dialogue seeks to ensure more space for the national economy within global rules.
Despite the rumors, Brazil is not at immediate risk of being excluded from Swift. Any measures in this regard would depend on a complex legal and political process within the European Union. Brazil’s participation in the system, on the contrary, tends to grow with greater representativeness in decision-making bodies.
And you, do you believe Brazil should prepare for alternatives to Swift as a form of protection? Or do you think that full integration into the system ensures greater stability? Leave your opinion in the comments—your perspective helps enrich the debate.
Pois é…. Mas a U.E está de joelhos para os EUA com o TARIFAÇO. É só o Trump pedir..
A UE sempre buscará proteção dos EUA caso haja qualquer ameaça de guerra, pois, se há uma potência que sabe o que é uma guerra chama-se EUA. E são bons para defender os oprimidos por algum tirano que por ventura surja por aí. Assim, todos sabemos, moeda forte chama-se dólar. Ninguém quer saber dos produtos mundiais sendo cotados em Euro, Libra ou outra moeda qualquer, tudo é cotado no dólar. No Brasil, particularmente, não se negocia, nem se conhece, isso falando de quase 100% dos brasileiros, outra moeda na qual se baseie o preço das coisas. Esta é a visão de um cidadão comum, mas que sempre prestou atenção nos movimentos econômicos do país.
Até Bancos franceses foram sancionados! Se a Europa é tão forte assim, por que isso aconteceu?
Acredita……………..