Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will wait until he assumes the Brazilian presidency on January 1 to travel to the United States and meet with President Joe Biden, a senior adviser said Monday
Text: RFI / AFP
Lula met in Brasilia with Biden’s Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, who officially invited him to the White House, in a first meeting with a high-ranking representative of the US administration since the leftist’s victory in the ballot on October 30.
Sullivan commented that “Biden would be willing to receive President Lula even before he takes office,” Celso Amorim, who was Brazil’s foreign minister during the former union leader’s first two governments (2003-2010), told reporters.
According to the diplomat, Lula “highly appreciated” the interest of the White House in receiving him soon but indicated that it is more likely that the meeting will take place “after the beginning of the year, already on an official visit as president.”
On Friday, Lula himself had said that the meeting with Biden could take place after December 12, when he will receive the “diploma” of president-elect from the Superior Electoral Tribunal.
“I am encouraged to talk with President Biden and deepen the relationship between our countries,” Lula tweeted after the appointment with Sullivan.
*Read also: Unitary Platform asks Lula da Silva to maintain support for Venezuelan migration
On his Instagram account he posted a photo of himself shaking hands with the American. “Brazil is once again being respected by the world,” she wrote in the caption.
In another image, Lula holds a US soccer team jersey and Biden’s representative a gift box adorned with a ribbon in the colors of Brazil.
For almost two hours, Lula and Sullivan had a “very extensive conversation” on regional and world issues, said Amorim, who was present at the meeting.
Among the topics on the agenda were development cooperation and green technology, the war in Ukraine, the fight against climate change and ways to “strengthen democracy” in Latin America.
The US representative was also scheduled to meet with members of the government of outgoing President Jair Bolsonaro, defeated by Lula in the second round.
Post Views: 43
