Brazil says it will reject the G-7's $20 million in Amazon firefighting aid amid spat with French president

Brazilian firefighters in the Amazon
(Image credit: Aizar Raldes/AFP/Getty Images)

The Brazilian government said late Monday that it is rejecting its share of the $20 million that the Group of Seven leaders pledged earlier in the day to tackle the wildfires raging through the Amazon rainforest. Brazilian officials didn't explain the decision but cited French President Emmanuel Macron, who had announced the funds and offered French military assistance to fight the fires.

"We appreciate (the offer), but maybe those resources are more relevant to reforest Europe," Onyx Lorenzoni, chief of staff to President Jair Bolsonaro, told Brazilian media, in remarks confirmed by Bolsonaro's office. "Macron cannot even avoid a foreseeable fire in a church that is a world heritage site. What does he intend to teach our country?" Earlier Monday, before Bolsonaro met with his Cabinet, Environment Minister Ricardo Salles had welcomed the G-7 pledge of support.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.