BRASILIA: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Monday confirmed that he will travel to India in February, ahead of a subsequent trip to Washington, following a telephone conversation with United States President Donald Trump.
Sharing the details on X, Lula wrote, “We agreed on a visit to Washington after my trip to India and South Korea in February, on a date to be set soon.”
He added that during the call, the two leaders discussed “bilateral relations and the global agenda,” adding that they “exchanged information on the economic indicators of both countries, which point to good prospects for the two economies.”
President Lula said Trump noted that the “economic growth of the United States and Brazil is positive for the region as a whole.”
Lula added, “We welcomed the good relationship built in recent months, which resulted in the lifting of a significant portion of the tariffs applied to Brazilian products.”
The Brazilian President said he had “reiterated the proposal, forwarded to the State Department in December, to strengthen cooperation in combating organised crime.”
He also conveyed interest in “tightening the partnership in repressing money laundering and arms trafficking, as well as in freezing assets of criminal groups and exchanging data on financial transactions,” adding that the proposal was “well received by the U.S. president.”
Addressing broader international issues, Lula wrote, “Regarding the Peace Council, I proposed that the body promoted by the United States be limited to the Gaza issue and provide a seat for Palestine.”
He added, “In that context, I reiterated the importance of a comprehensive reform of the United Nations, which includes expanding the permanent members of the Security Council.”
He also spoke about Venezuela, saying, “We exchanged impressions on the situation in Venezuela. I emphasized the importance of preserving peace and stability in the region and working for the well-being of the Venezuelan people.”
Separately, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Lula reviewed bilateral relations during a recent conversation, highlighting the significance of reformed multilateralism in addressing common global challenges.
