Donald Trump suggested on Tuesday he may back full Nato membership for Brazil during a meeting with the country's new far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro.

The US president said: "I intend to designate Brazil as a major non-Nato ally or even possibly, if you start thinking about it, maybe a Nato ally".

He added: "I'll have to talk to a lot of people but maybe a Nato ally - which will greatly advance security and cooperation between our countries."

Mr Trump's comments were a step further than had been expected from the meeting between the two populist presidents, who also discussed the unrest in Venezuela and trade.

Brazilian officials said last week that they have been seeking the status of "major non-Nato ally," which falls short of full Nato membership, but offers financial advantages not available to non-Nato members.

Colombia is so far the only Latin American nation to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, becoming a "global partner" in 2018, a status which means it will not necessarily have to take part in military action.

It was a ringing endorsement of Brazil's new president by Mr Trump, who predicted a "fantastic working relationship" between the two leaders saying "we have many views that are similar."