lula Expresses Confidence in US-Brazil trade Despite Bolsonaro Conviction, Following โMeeting with Trump
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) โฃ – Brazilian President Luiz Inรกcio Lula da Silva emerged from a meetingโ with former U.S. President Donaldโข Trump expressing optimism about theโ future of trade relations between the two countries, despite recent political turmoil in Brazil. Lula โขunderscored the economic importance ofโ the partnership, noting brazil’sโข significant trade surplus with the U.S. and dismissing any connection between the โdomestic legal proceedings against his โpredecessor โand ongoing trade negotiations.
The meeting โtook place โas Lula attended summits hosted by the โฃAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations in Kuala Lumpur. Brazil maintained aโฃ $6.8 billion trade surplus with the โฃU.S. in 2023, โคaccording to the U.S. Census Bureau,โฃ making it โone of three Group of 20 nations withโฃ wich the U.S.โ enjoys โa tradeโ surplus. Lula emphasized this point to Trump, signaling brazil’s continued value as a key economic partner. The discussion occurred shortly after Bolsonaro โฃwas โconvicted of attempting a coupโข following his 2022 election loss and sentenced to approximately 27 โyears in prison by Brazil’s Supreme Court.
Lula stated he reassured Trump that the case against Bolsonaro, whom he described as “part of the past now in Brazilian history,” was the result of a fair trial and should not influence trade discussions. He also offered to mediate the ongoing crisis in Venezuela, where President โNicolรกsโ Maduro has accused the U.S. โof escalating tensions.
Both leaders acknowledged the โpositive nature of their interaction. trump,โค aboard Air Force One, wished Lula a โhappy 80th birthday,โ describing the brazilian president as “a very vigorous guy.” Lula himself stated he felt at a high point in his life and โคexpressed a hope to live to 120 โyears old. Malaysia, the chair of the ASEAN summits, is seeking to strengthen trade ties between the region and Latin America.