Lula and Baden united on many issues including democracy and climate
2023.02.13 04:13
Lula and Baden united on many issues including democracy and climate
By Tiffany Smith
Budrigannews.com – In a resumption of relations between the two largest democracies in the hemisphere following the end of the turbulent rule of Donald Trump ally Jair Bolsonaro, U.S. President Joe Biden met with Brazilian leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Friday.
According to a joint statement released by Brazil, Washington stated that it would work to support a fund to protect the Amazon rainforest, and Biden agreed to travel to Brazil. The two leaders also discussed their shared values in the fight against climate change and the defense of democracy from authoritarianism’s rise.
Before a private meeting between the leaders in the Oval Office, Biden told Lula, “We have to continue to stand up for democracy and our democratic values that form the core of our strength.” He added that the two leaders were “on the same page” regarding the “climate crisis.”
During Bolsonaro’s presidency, Brazil’s diplomatic relations with other traditional allies cooled, despite the far-right leader’s vocal support for Bolsonaro.
After challenging the results of the runoff election that took place on Oct. 30 and in which he narrowly lost to Lula, Bolsonaro flew to Florida two days before his term was to end on January 1. A violent group of Bolsonaro supporters stormed Brazil’s presidential palace, Congress, and Supreme Court a few days later.
Lula said at the White House that Brazil “self-marginalized itself for four years” under the previous president, without mentioning Bolsonaro by name.
Biden laughed and said, “sounds familiar,” when Lula said that his world had “started and ended with fake news in the morning, afternoon, and at night.”
Lula stated that Brazil was attempting to reposition itself in the world, and that the two nations should never again tolerate attacks of the kind carried out by Bolsonaro supporters last month or carried out at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, with the intention of preventing the certification of Biden’s victory over Trump in 2020.
According to Lula, the two leaders could also collaborate to combat climate change and inequality.
Given Brazil’s neutrality, the leaders were not expected to reach a consensus on the war in Ukraine, despite all the goodwill. Biden has led a global coalition to retaliate against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
The joint statement reads, “They deplored the violation of Russia’s territorial integrity by Ukraine and the annexation of parts of its territory as flagrant violations of international law and called for a just and durable peace.”
Lula stated that he discussed his position with Biden and that he sensed Biden’s interest in ending the war. He wants to see a negotiated peace discussion that includes more neutral global players.
In addition, the Brazilian leader defended his decision not to provide German-made artillery ammunition intended for Western assistance to Ukraine’s defense. I would be contributing to the conflict if I sent the ammunition. I refuse to participate in the war. “I want peace,” he previously stated on CNN.
According to the joint statement, Biden and Lula did agree to collaborate on reforming the United Nations Security Council to include “permanent seats for countries in Africa, in Latin America, and the Caribbean.”
Following a meeting with Senator Bernie Sanders and other Democratic Party lawmakers, Lula went to the White House.
The support for democracy, human rights, and the environment would be at the center of Lula’s agenda in Washington, according to Brazil’s foreign ministry.
According to a joint statement that confirmed an earlier Reuters report, Washington agreed to work with Congress to provide “initial support” for the Amazon Fund, which was started by Germany and Norway to support sustainable development projects and rainforest protection.
A Brazilian source claims that the United States intends to make an initial donation of $50 million, signaling the resumption of relations between the two nations after the recent period of icy relations. Brazil has long desired additional contributions from other nations.
This week, the new Lula administration launched an enforcement operation against illegal gold miners who have devastated the Yanomami indigenous reservation in northern Brazil. This action demonstrated the administration’s commitment to protecting the Amazon rainforest.
Bolsonaro had relaxed environmental regulations, encouraged mining and logging in the Amazon, which he claimed would aid economic growth, and allowed deforestation to reach a 15-year high in the region.
Lula stated at the White House that the previous administration had “invaded” the Amazon rainforest and that he was committed to achieving zero deforestation by 2030.
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