Joe Biden and Lula da Silva met at the White House this Friday and showed agreement on at least three topics: the climate crisis, defending democracy and fighting against fake news.
“Democracy has been tested in our two countries. Our mutual agendas are very similar. I reaffirm America’s unwavering support for democracy,” Biden said. “We must reject political violence and have great faith in our democratic institutions. We must continue to defend democracy and our values, not only in our hemisphere but around the world. These are our fundamental principles.”
Lula agreed. “I have three things to say to you. First, thank you for acknowledging my inauguration. Second, acknowledging your defense of democracy. Third, I congratulate you on your State of the Nation speech. It would be very fall well in Brazil,” he said. said, causing a smile in the American leader.
“I am starting a term after a president who isolated himself internationally, whose world began and ended with fake news,” the Brazilian continued, without citing Jair Bolsonaro. Biden interrupted, “Sounds familiar,” sparking laughter in the room because of the indirect allusion to Donald Trump, his predecessor.
Then Lula spoke about the need to preserve the Amazon, a common concern of both presidents. “Caring for the Amazon today is caring for planet Earth. And caring for planet Earth is caring for our survival. Therefore, we all have a duty to leave a better world for our children and grandchildren than the one we were given from our parents”.
The Brazilian president even suggested building an alliance against global warming, an idea that Biden agreed to.
Earlier, Lula met with former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders and other Democratic Party politicians, the same as President Biden. And then, privately, he discussed more topics with his counterpart, some where the convergence may not be as great as Brazil’s relationship with Venezuela, the war between Ukraine and Russia, and one point that has a relationship with Portugal: the President The Brazilian must ignore Biden’s request to support Amy Pope in the race for International Organization for Migration director general as the Brazilian vote is consolidated in António Vitorino’s re-election.
Human rights were also on the agenda, in themes such as the fight against hunger and poverty, the rights of indigenous peoples and the fight against racism. Therefore, of course, the Brazilian entourage also includes Anielle Franco, Minister of Racial Equality , to the holders of 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.
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
