In an effort to repair the strained ties between the two biggest democracies in the hemisphere following the ouster of Donald Trump’s friend Jair Bolsonaro, U.S. President Joe Biden visited yesterday with the leftist President of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
According to a joint statement provided by Brazil, while the two leaders discussed common ideals in combating climate change and defending democracy against a rise in authoritarianism, Washington pledged to cooperate to establish a fund to safeguard the Amazon rainforest and Biden committed to visiting Brazil.
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Prior to a private meeting between the two leaders in the Oval Office, Biden told Lula that “We have to continue to stand up for democracy and our democratic values that form the core of our strength,” and that they were both on the “same page” about the “climate issue.”
Although Bolsonaro enjoyed the open support of Republican former U.S. President Trump, Brazil’s diplomatic relations with other traditional allies deteriorated under the government of the far-right leader.
Bolsonaro boarded a journey to Florida two days before his term ended on January 1 after appealing the results of the runoff election on October 30 (which he narrowly lost to Lula). Days later, to protest the election results, a ferocious crowd of Bolsonaro supporters broke into Brazil’s Congress, Supreme Court, and presidential house.
Lula claimed at the White House that Brazil “self-marginalized itself for four years” under the previous administration. Bolsonaro was not specifically mentioned.
Lula stated that it “started and ended with fake news in the morning, afternoon, at night,” which caused Biden to chuckle and add, “sounds familiar.”
The attacks by Bolsonaro supporters last month and the one it echoed at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, that sought to prevent the certification of Biden’s victory over Trump in the 2020 presidential election should never be tolerated again, according to Lula, who noted that Brazil was attempting to reposition itself in the international community.
According to Lula, the two presidents might cooperate to fight inequality and climate change.
Despite the goodwill, it was not anticipated that the leaders would reach a consensus over the conflict in Ukraine due to Brazil’s neutrality. A global alliance under Biden has been formed to punish Russia for annexing Ukraine.
In accordance with the joint statement, “They deplored the violation of the territorial integrity of Ukraine by Russia and the annexation of parts of its territory as flagrant violations of international law and called for a just and durable peace.”
Lula said he addressed this viewpoint with Biden and that he felt Biden shared his desire to put an end to the war. He wants to see a negotiated debate of peace with the participation of more impartial international parties.
The Brazilian president also justified his choice to refuse to provide Germany with the artillery munitions it requested in exchange for Western backing for Ukraine’s defense. “If I sent the ammunition, I would be joining the war. I don’t want to join the war.” He previously stated, “I want peace,” on CNN.
According to the joint statement, Biden and Lula did reach an agreement to collaborate on the UN Security Council reform in order to add, “permanent seats for countries in Africa and in Latin America and the Caribbean.”
Lula spoke with Senator Bernie Sanders and other members of Congress from Biden’s Democratic Party before making his way to the White House.
Lula’s agenda in Washington will be centered on promoting democracy, human rights, and the environment, according to the foreign ministry of Brazil.
According to a joint statement that corroborated a previous Reuters report, Washington decided during the trip to collaborate with Congress to give “initial support” for the Amazon Fund, which was founded by Germany and Norway to assist programs that encourage sustainable development and rainforest conservation.
According to a Brazilian source, the United States is preparing a $50 million first gift, underscoring the recent warming of relations between the two nations following a period of tense relations. Brazil is keen for other nations to contribute.
By beginning an enforcement campaign against illicit gold miners who have wreaked havoc on the Yanomami indigenous reservation in northern Brazil, the new Lula administration demonstrated this week that it is committed to safeguarding the Amazon rainforest.
In order to promote mining and logging in the Amazon, which he said would benefit economic growth, Bolsonaro loosened environmental restrictions, causing the region’s deforestation to reach a 15-year high.
At the White House, Lula declared that the Amazon rainforest had been “invaded” by the last government and reaffirmed his commitment to ending deforestation by the year 2030.
