Brazil and the US are arranging a meeting between Lula and Trump in Asia.
Meeting seeks to ease tensions following recent tariffs, sanctions, and diplomatic friction.
247 - Brazil and the United States are negotiating an in-person meeting between President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and US President Donald Trump. According to Bloomberg, the meeting is likely to take place in a third country, with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, scheduled for this month, emerging as the leading option.
The ASEAN summit, which will take place in Malaysia starting October 26, is seen by the Brazilian government as a strategic opportunity for dialogue on neutral ground. The White House confirmed that talks about the potential meeting are underway.
Recent tensions between Brazil and the US
Bilateral relations have deteriorated in recent months after Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on various Brazilian products and sanctioned Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The measure was a way to pressure against the trial that resulted in the conviction of Jair Bolsonaro (PL) for attempted coup.
Despite the crisis, a brief meeting during the UN General Assembly in New York opened the door for renewed dialogue. At the event, Trump stated that he and Lula had "good chemistry" and were willing to discuss their differences in a more extensive meeting.
ASEAN as the stage for the possible meeting.
Although Trump has not yet officially confirmed his participation in the ASEAN summit, he is expected to travel to Malaysia as part of an Asian agenda that also includes visits to Japan and South Korea. Lula, in turn, will travel to Kuala Lumpur after a state visit to Indonesia, part of his efforts to expand trade ties with the region.
Sources within the Brazilian government say that Lula considers the meeting with Trump a top priority. However, the president is seeking to ensure that the meeting yields concrete results and is gathering data and information to present to the American.
Diplomacy in motion
Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira confirmed that he has already spoken with Trump's advisors about the possibility of a meeting. "It could be a phone call, a video call, or a meeting at a specific time when both are present at the same international event," Vieira stated in a congressional hearing. He added that, for now, there are no plans for Trump to visit Brazil or for Lula to visit Washington.
