Lula and Biden meet in Washington and promise to “stay together” to protect democracy

The presidents of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and of the United States, Joe Biden, met this Friday in Washington to advance issues on the common agenda and open a new moment in bilateral relations, a meeting in which both leaders pledged to “stick together” to protect democracy.

The portion of the meeting that was open to the press took place in a relaxed atmosphere, in which both leaders were comfortable, made jokes and kept the conversation focused on common causes such as peace, democracy and the environment, away from topics sensitive as foreign policy and their positions on China and Russia.

“The strong democracies of our two nations have been put to the test recently, really put to the test, and our institutions have also been put in jeopardy,” Biden said as he welcomed Lula da Silva to the Oval Office.

The US president alluded to the attack by supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro to public institutions in Brasiliaon January 8, and reaffirmed his country’s commitment to Brazil and to maintaining the good state of the relationship between the two nations.

“The United States and Brazil are the two largest democracies in the hemisphere,” Biden told Lula, while insisting that the two nations “reject political violence” and uphold the firm commitment to “stay united” to defend democratic values. Worldwide.

Lula, for his part, thanked Biden for the support shown almost immediately after he won the elections, his “stance in defense of democracy in Brazil” and congratulated him on his State of the Nation speech a few days ago.

The veteran ruler, who on January 1st began his third term As head of state in Brazil, he criticized – without mentioning his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro – the state in which his country remained isolated in the international arena for the last four years.

“Brazil is a country that does not seek litigation with anyone, it is a country that loves peace,” he asserted.

This is Lula’s seventh visit to Washington as Brazil’s president. Both rulers already knew each other and had spoken on several occasions by telephone since the Brazilian won the elections in October, but it is the first time they have met face to face since they assumed the presidencies of their respective countries.

Common interests

Left-leaning Lula assumed the presidency of Brazil for the third time after defeating Bolsonaro in a close election, marked by extreme polarization of the country and mistrust in the electoral process, encouraged by far-right Bolsonaro supporters.

After the followers attack of Bolsonaro to public institutions in the South American capital, in events reminiscent of the assault on the US Capitol, Biden was quick to express his “irresolute” support for Lula and described as “unacceptable” the situation in Brazil.

Now in Washington, the Democratic president reaffirmed his willingness to work together due to “the shared values ​​and strong ties between Brazil and the United States.” According to Biden, “the great global challenges put us on the same page,” particularly on issues of the climate crisis and sustainable development.

Lula took advantage of the moment to mention the serious situation in the Amazon and the need for an international effort to protect its fragile ecosystem.

Without explicit mentions of Bolsonaro

In the meeting between Lula and Biden, the presence in Florida of Jair Bolsonaro was not explicitly mentioned, who was not at Lula’s inauguration and has asked a visitor visa for six months In the USA.

Bolsonaro faces investigations in the South American country due to his alleged relationship with the attack in Brasilia and his involvement in what is already considered “genocide” against the indigenous Yanomami communitydecimated by curable diseases and malnutrition related to illegal gold mining.

Before meeting with Biden, Lula assured the television that Bolsonaro is a “faithful copy” of former US President Donald Trump and harshly criticized them, calling him “inhuman” and a “liar.” However, he affirmed that he will not request the extradition of the ex-president from the US, although he qualified that an eventual request in this regard would correspond to the judiciary.

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