The United States enjoys cooperative relations with Brazil, which is the seventh-largest economy in the world and is recognized by the Obama Administration as an emerging center of international influence. Administration officials have often highlighted Brazil's status as a multicultural democracy, referring to the country as a natural partner that shares values and goals with the United States. Bilateral ties have been strained from time to time, however, as the countries' occasionally divergent national interests and independent foreign policies have led to disagreements. U.S.-Brazilian relations were particularly strained following revelations in 2013 of alleged National Security Agency (NSA) activities inside Brazil, but cooperation has improved in recent months. Ongoing areas of engagement include trade, energy, security, racial equality, and the environment.