Brazilian President Lula said today (January 27): "Today I had a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump to exchange views on bilateral relations and global agenda issues; both sides shared information on economic indicators, which show a positive outlook for the two major economies. President Trump stated that the economic growth of the U.S. and Brazil has a positive impact on the entire region. We affirmed the good relationship built in recent months, which has led to the cancellation of several high tariffs on Brazilian products."
I reiterated the proposal submitted to the U.S. Department of State in December last year, which calls for enhanced cooperation in combating organized crime; at the same time, I expressed willingness to deepen cooperation to jointly combat money laundering and arms trafficking, freeze assets of criminal groups, and share financial transaction data. This proposal received a positive response from the U.S. president.
Regarding the 'Peace Committee,' I proposed that this mechanism, put forward by the U.S., should focus on the Gaza issue and reserve a seat for Palestine. In this context, I once again emphasized the importance of comprehensive reform of the United Nations, including expanding the number of permanent members of the Security Council.
Both sides exchanged views on the situation in Venezuela. I emphasized that maintaining regional peace and stability and striving for the well-being of the Venezuelan people is crucial.
Both sides agreed that after my visit to India and South Korea in February, I will visit Washington, D.C., with the specific date to be determined."
Comments: The recent call between Lula and Trump is a practical interaction between Brazil and the U.S., aimed at consolidating bilateral relations, coordinating global and regional agendas, following the thaw in economic trade disputes. It highlights Lula's balanced approach of "autonomous and pragmatic diplomacy" and also exposes the differences in aspirations between the U.S. and Brazil on multilateral mechanisms and the international order.
In the economic and trade field, the U.S. lifting multiple high tariffs on Brazilian products is not only a realistic compromise due to its own domestic food inflation and supply-demand gap but also an acknowledgment of Brazil's ability to withstand tariff pressures and expand its diversified markets. Both sides affirmed the positive trend in the economy, which essentially lays the foundation for subsequent economic and trade cooperation and Lula's visit to the U.S.; in terms of security cooperation, Lula's proposal for joint efforts against organized crime, money laundering, and arms trafficking received a positive response, which aligns with the practical needs of Latin America to combat transnational crimes and also meets the U.S. demand for security control in the Western Hemisphere. This is one of the few areas where both sides have common interests; in multilateral issues, Lula's proposal that the U.S.-proposed 'Peace Committee' should focus on the Gaza issue and reserve a seat for Palestine, while reiterating the need for UN reform and expansion of the Security Council, reflects his adherence to the diplomatic stance of "not taking sides and emphasizing balance," and also uses the opportunity to create momentum for Brazil's bid for a permanent seat on the Security Council. The U.S. did not explicitly oppose it, which is actually an implicit recognition of Brazil's status as a major power in Latin America; regarding the Venezuela issue, Lula emphasized the importance of regional peace and stability and the well-being of the people, which avoids the U.S. strong intervention rhythm and maintains the bottom line of Latin American countries solving regional affairs independently, preventing Brazil from becoming a tool in U.S. geopolitical games.
Overall, this call marks the shift from "tariff confrontation" to "limited cooperation" between Brazil and the U.S. Lula uses trade as a lever, seeks voice in multilateral agendas, and safeguards the bottom line in regional affairs, which maintains Brazil's diplomatic autonomy and provides the Trump administration with a "respectable option" for cooperation in Latin America. Whether Lula's upcoming visit to the U.S. can push for the complete removal of tariffs and whether consensus can be reached on Security Council reform will be key tests of the quality of the cooperation between the two sides.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1855444504824835/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.