Goals for a Great Power Brazil

Inspired by a game of Victoria 2...

I actually don't know that much about Brazil; my only reading, other than a general piece on Latin American history up to independence, was a discussion of urban reform in Rio after the overthrow of the Empire. But what were Brazil's foreign policy goals, and what would a great power Brazil (say, a state that was about as strong as Italy) around 1900 see as its goals?
 
I can't see much changing from OTL. at that power level, they're looking at being a regional power which is what they were OTL. they can't really project power North for Geographic reasons. they run into the other regional power in the south (Argentina). the only real expansion in that direction is usurping Uruguay and Paraguay, and maybe taking Entre Rios from Argentina. All in all, hard to pacify the population and just makes Argentina pissed off. So, you're looking at throwing their weight around to mark their territory as being top dog. World wide, being the power of Italy doesn't make them much of a player on the world stage. they would have enough power to prevent others from using them as a 3rd world pawn, but not much more. Besides, they still have so much westward development to do, they don't need to look abroad for fresh land.
 
The most I can see when it comes to territorial expansion (outside of the Amazon river delta) is acquiring the Missiones territory, which would improve Brazilian access to the Mesopotamian river system and their potential for political and economic hegemony over Paraguay.

Otherwise... Ensure quasi control over Uruguay, take over chunks of the Portuguese colonial empire (specifically Angola, which had good ties with Brazil)/colonize Africa near the Congo river and that's about it.

Also I agree with unprincipled peter about the fact that Brazil as an Italy-like power isn't that grand, though at least it's plausible enough. Brazil could serve as a good ally of the UK or the US but they'd lack the ability to project power effectively on their own, just like Italy (which always was dependent on other powers, namely France and Germany, depending on the time).
 
Iserlohn,
minor nitpick (mostly just because no one ever really discusses south america). Not really sure that control of missiones gains you much of anything regarding control of the river system. Maybe control of Posadas, which gives you an upriver port on the Parana to base your river navy.

I don't really disagree with you. I'm thinking that if they are a strong regional power, and considering that freedom of navigation on the rivers have been long established, and that railroads allow access to all sides of Paraguay, Missiones by itself isn't all that worthy to get into a war to take. In the Brazil wanks I've dreamed up, I always lust after entre rios, which is kinda Pampas Lite, and should be doable as far as keeping control, since it isn't all that populated. and you take corrientes/missiones with it.

I had thought of Portuguese Africa. not sure if they're worth the effort, though. Lots of minerals/energy (Mozambique's coal could be just as handy as Angola's oil) but also lots of troubles. When I'm dreaming of being emperor of Brazil, I always struggle with whether or not to take African colonies. IF Brazil maintains cordial relations with Portugal, they can always exploit the colonies economically while sticking Portugal with the ownership costs. If necessary, they can back up Portugal militarily if someone starts encroaching the territories.
 
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