When two strangers need to communicate, say in an elevator, the first topic of conversation is usually the weather. Lula da Silva and Joe Biden are not exactly strangers, they have already exchanged two phone calls, after the October 30 elections and in the aftermath of the January 8 attacks on Brasília, but they are about to begin their first meeting as presidents of Brazil and the US, this Friday, February 10, at the White House, talking about weather – climate change, more specifically. Then the economy, hunger, poverty, racism, Ukraine, Venezuela and of course democracy are discussed.
“Brazil has ample bargaining power on climate and the recent commotion caused by the Yanomami tragedy may make the US sensitive to do even more on this issue,” Vinícius Vieira, professor of Economics and International Relations, defended to DN.
“But, along with the climate, the issue of regulating big techies and social networks for influencing democracy without major consequences, this point unites the two leaders, Biden’s support of Lula can help when the issue is presented in a Republican-majority US parliament and Lula’s support of Biden matters because, through signing international treaties would circumvent the domestic anguish that this arrangement would cause him, for he would soon be called a censor by right.”
At a time when the countries celebrate 200 years of diplomatic relations, their presidents have much in common: they beat close opponents of the far right, Jair Bolsonaro and Donald Trump, at the polls, and both took office against unfounded allegations of electoral fraud that led to attacks on the headquarters of the three powers in Brasília on January 8 and on the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Launching the visit, the Planalto Palace highlights this issue: “Two of the world’s largest democracies face similar challenges related to political radicalization and hate speech in the virtual space”. “We want to build relationships of partnership and growth between countries, for the development of our region, to promote actions for world peace and against fake newsLula herself added on social media.
O place of the White House states that “the two presidents will discuss the United States’ continued support for Brazilian democracy and how we can continue to work together to advance inclusion and democratic values around the world.”
“For the US, Latin America today, as in the Cold War with the Soviet Union, is seen as a tipping point in the question of US hegemony – had the region had more autocratic regimes, China and Russia, according to Washington, much more space, so it is in this broad context that the visit of Lula, whose Democratic election was unconditionally supported by Biden, must be understood,” Vieira defends.
“Brazil is on the same level as Turkey and India, as so-called “pivot states”, those states that, depending on the alignment, can decide the future of world politics – with Turkey, the US has a relationship through NATO, with India, through QUAD, the group that brings together the two countries, Australia and Japan, remains to bring Brazil to justice. In this sense, Brazil can reap dividends in terms of climate, but also in terms of technology and economy.”
And he illustrates: “The US is in the process of shifting investment from China to nearby countries and to allied countries, such as Brazil, which needs capital for its reindustrialization. On the one hand, the country is not interesting because of the so-“cost Brazil”, labor and tax laws and infrastructure, but on the other hand has a large consumer market”.
Brazil’s relationship with Venezuela and the war between Ukraine and Russia, where disagreements can arise, will be challenges for Biden and Lula. Another bone of contention concerns Portugal: Brazil’s president must ignore his counterpart’s request to support Amy Pope in the race for Director General of the International Organization for Migration as Brazil’s vote is consolidated in António Vitorino’s re-election .
The meeting will focus on the human rights agenda, on topics such as the fight against hunger and poverty, the rights of indigenous peoples and the fight against racism. Therefore, the Brazilian delegation includes Anielle Franco, Minister of Racial Equality, as well as, of course, Foreign Affairs, Mauro Vieira, Finance, Fernando Haddad, and Environment, Marina Silva. The first ladies, Janja da Silva and Jill Biden, meet for tea at the White House.
“From an internal political point of view, Lula’s journey is positive in future campaigns, because Lula’s image with the US president, for the average Brazilian, even the one who voted for Bolsonaro, indicates competence and his return to a global scenario, such as the bride being courted made. by Scholz, Macron and now Biden”.
In addition to the meeting with Biden, Brazil’s president will meet with Sen. Bernie Sanders and Democratic Party delegates at Blair House, where he will reside with tight security due to Bolsonaristas protests combined on the internet.
The US is the third country Lula has visited since he took office, after Argentina and Uruguay. China and Portugal, dates to be confirmed, will be the next destinations.
Source: DN
