This thread is in reference to what would have happened to Brazil's foreign relations if the British had been successful in the Rio de la Plata in 1806-07. I think that Britain and Portugal, being allies, would have signed an agreement relatively quickly (say, in the context of the Congress of Vienna) to settle boundaries between their respective territories in southern South America and to demarcate their spheres of influence. An independent Brazil would maybe have switched alliances, so to speak, from Britain to France to act as a counter-weight to British Argentina - either right upon Brazilian independence or when a dispute arises between Brazil and Britain in the 1830s or 1840s (over an issue like slavery). (If the latter, France would intervene in a Brazilian-British dispute and take over from Britain, if you will.) And after all, France was a world power competing with Britain at that point. This could have an impact on slavery and the monarchy in the last third of the 19th century and beyond. Britain, though, would still have financial influence in Brazil no less than in the rest of South America (real life or otherwise). What do you think? Would Brazil have switched alliances from the British to the French, or would it have stayed with the British?