Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has articulated a firm stance against global polarization ahead of his scheduled meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in early March. Speaking at a New Delhi press conference concluding his three-day India visit, Lula emphasized Brazil’s commitment to equitable international relations.
“My message to President Trump is clear: Brazil rejects any movement toward a new Cold War,” Lula stated. “We maintain no intention to interfere in other nations’ affairs, but we insist that all countries must be treated equally in global diplomacy.”
The upcoming Washington summit agenda will reportedly focus on four key areas: bilateral trade relations, immigration policies, investment opportunities, and inter-university cooperation initiatives. This meeting occurs against a backdrop of significant policy divergences between the two leaders on multiple fronts.
Substantial disagreements exist regarding Republican-imposed tariffs, Israel’s military operations in Gaza, the U.S. detention of Venezuelan President Maduro, and the functioning of Trump’s Peace Council. Notably, Lula declined to comment on Friday’s Supreme Court decision that invalidated numerous Trump-era tariffs on imported goods, which the former president immediately vowed to replace with 15% levies using alternative legislative mechanisms.
Despite these substantial policy differences, the Brazilian leader expressed cautious optimism about bilateral relations: “I believe U.S.-Brazil relations will emerge stronger from our discussions,” Lula concluded, suggesting diplomatic dialogue might bridge existing divides.