American Secretary of State John Kerry defended the US Internet and telecom surveillance program during a visit Brazil that was supposed to ease South America’s fears over it.

His Brazilian counterpart, Foreign Minister Antonio de Aguiar Patriota, greeted Kerry at Itamaraty Palace in the capital city Brasilia.

But the US government hasn’t found the best path to combat global terrorism, and the lack of information about its spy program threatens ties with Brazil, according to the South America giant’s Foreign Minister.

“We're now facing a new type of challenge in our bilateral relationship,” Patriota said at a news conference, “We need to discontinue practices that threaten sovereignty.”

Brazil was revealed to be the National Security Agency’s (NSA) number one target for Internet and telecom monitoring, according to the revelations from fugitive intelligence leaker Edward Snowden.  Inconvenient, since America is trying to draw Brazil closer in its circle of friends.

Kerry insisted US surveillance programs are designed to prevent bombings before they happen and have protected Americans and citizens of other countries.

“Brazil and other countries will understand exactly what we are doing, why and how – and we will work together to make sure that whatever is done is done in a way that respects our friends and our partners,” he added.