As the Amazon forest suffers massive wildfires, leaders around the globe have turned their eyes to Brazil, many expressing displeasure with the country’s lack of action to stop the burning, the smoke of which can be seen from space, according to NPR.
Facing increased pressure from European leaders, who threatened Friday to scrap a trade deal with South America, Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro has pledged to send the Brazilian army to combat the fires, CNBC reports.
Forest fires in the Brazilian Amazon have soared by 83% this year, according to the report. Deforestation in the region has also been on the rise since Bolsonaro took over as president of Brazil earlier this year.
French President Emmanuel Macron called for leaders to discuss the Amazon fires, which have been described as an environmental crisis, during the G7 summit this week.
President Trump said the U.S. would help with the fires in a tweet Aug. 23.
“I told him if the United States can help with the Amazon Rainforest fires, we stand ready to assist!” Trump tweeted.
