The invitation came from the President of the United States, Joe Biden, during a telephone conversation with his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, expressing his administration’s support after the January 8 attack on the parliament, the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court. presidency. in Brasilia, launched by supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who was defeated in the election and has been in Florida for over a month. These images revived Washington’s memory of January 6, 2021, the day the Capitol was attacked by a mob of supporters of false theories about Donald Trump’s electoral theft. The leaders of the United States’ two most populous democracies will meet at the White House on Friday afternoon.
Announcing the visit, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre warned that they would discuss issues such as “fighting climate change, ensuring food security, promoting economic development, strengthening peace and security, and regional administration of migration”. Prior to meeting with Biden, the leader of the Brazilian left is expected to meet with Sen. Bernie Sanders, other Democratic congressmen and several union members.
One of the strengths of Lula’s visit to Biden will likely be the United States’ support for democracy in Brazil, especially the attack that took place a month ago, the worst since the end of the dictatorship in the South American country, and the promotion of values around the world. In this sense, Lula also wants to act against hate speech and disinformation. After the greeting in the gardens, a bilateral meeting is planned behind closed doors in the east wing of the presidential building.
President Lula and his wife Rosangela Silva arrive in Washington this Thursday Ricardo Stuckert (President of Brazil)
The United States also wants to address hemispheric and global issues, including China’s influence in the region (following the Chinese balloon that flew into the United States before it was shot down) and the war in Ukraine.
The idea of splitting the global geostrategic scenario into two clubs, those that defend democratic values and those that don’t, is one of Biden’s stated obsessions, extending the campaign that brought him to the White House in 2020. Democracy summit with 110 invited countries, held in virtual form due to the demands of the pandemic. Brazil participated. Countries like China or Russia were eventually excluded and this decision was controversial.
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Both powers were part of the multilateral experiment that marked the beginning of this century: the BRIC organization (later BRICS), which included China, Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa, and defended an alternative world order. In his previous stint as president of his country, Lula became a symbol that another way to defend the values of the South is possible.
Much has changed since then: With China becoming the main political, economic and military threat to the United States and Russia waging an expansionist war in Ukraine for nearly a year, Biden is seeking more involvement from Lula against both realities. Brazil’s president seems poised to reveal what could become one of the main points of friction between the two leaders. The Brazilian wants to present his colleague with his idea that a group of countries such as China, India, Brazil, Indonesia or Turkey mediate between Russia and Ukraine.
John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council, said of the US position on Friday: “These are sovereign decisions for nations to make and we respect them. We don’t think, I can only speak for ourselves, that it’s time to just do business with Russia. They are killing thousands upon thousands of Ukrainians, innocent people who pose no threat to Russia. He crossed that border almost a year ago without provocation or apology, and millions have sought refuge in and out of his country,” he said.
The Amazon and the environment are other topics on the agenda. Brazil is seeking political and financial support from the United States to preserve the world’s largest tropical forest, essential to combating global warming. The Brazilian delegation therefore includes several ministers, in addition to the Minister of the Environment, Marina Silva.
With regard to this official trip, both the government and the Brazilian press are ignoring the fact that former President Bolsonaro, who is under investigation for the coup in Brasilia, has been in the US since the end of his term. Known as the Tropical Trump, he began participating in political events in Florida, which is home to a large community of Brazilians. “I intend to return [a Brasil] in the coming weeks and act responsibly against the current government,” he said in a recent interview with far-right influencer Charlie Kirk. He said his plan is to return to the coordination of the right and prevent Brazil from “falling into socialism and communism”.
Speaking Tuesday at the policy analysis lab of the Washington-based Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, Filipe Nasser, adviser to Brazil’s ambassador to the United States, said: “Lula has only been in office for 40 days, so this trip shows how important this diplomatic relationship is. is for our country, a relationship that will soon last two centuries. This is an opportunity for both leaders to build or rebuild a personal relationship.”
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Source: La Neta Neta
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
