President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva leaves next Thursday (9) for the United States where, the following day, he will meet US President Joe Biden, in Washington. The two countries’ agenda will have three central themes: democracy, human rights and the environment. During the meeting, at the White House, the presidents will also discuss how the two countries can continue to work together to promote inclusion and democratic values in the region and in the world.
When speaking, this Tuesday (7), about the preparations for the president’s trip, the Secretary for the Americas at the Itamaraty, ambassador Michel Arslanian Neto, recalled that Lula recently spoke with Biden, by telephone, on two occasions. The first, when he was declared the winner of the presidential elections, and the second, on January 9, the day after the terrorist attacks on the headquarters of the three Powers of the Brazilian Republic.
“The two countries are experiencing similar challenges, a common concern with the issue of radicalization, political violence with the issue of using networks to spread disinformation and hate speech. So, with the two main democracies in the world coming together at their highest level, it will be a unique opportunity for them to send a message of strong support for political processes, without resorting to extremism or violence and with the appropriate use of social networks”, highlighted the ambassador.
On the human rights agenda, another reminder of the ambassador was the participation of the secretary of the US Department of the Interior, Deb Haaland, as leader of the US delegation at Lula’s inauguration, on behalf of President Joe Biden. Haaland is responsible for the policies of indigenous peoples in her country, and when she was in Brasilia, she met the president of Funai, Joenia Wapichana. The theme should be highlighted during Lula’s visit to the White House.
In the area of the environment and climate change, Brazil intends to present itself as an active actor committed to its obligations to reactivate environmental protection instruments, but also intends to seek engagement from the countries involved, to fulfill its obligations in terms of financing for mitigation, climate adaptation. “These are the two dimensions: a Brazil committed to the agenda, but also wanting to engage other countries for the balanced fulfillment of obligations in this area”, advanced Arslanian Neto.
In addition to the central themes, others should also be discussed during Lula’s visit to the United States, including food security, promoting economic development, strengthening peace and security, in addition to controlling regional migration. During the visit, the Brazilian president should also have an agenda with democratic parliamentarians.
President Lula’s entourage includes First Lady Janja, Chancellor Mauro Vieira, ministers Fernando Haddad (Finance), Marina Silva (Environment) and Anielle Franco (Racial Equality). Until the closing of this report, the Itamaraty had not informed the date and time of the return of the Brazilian president to the country.
