Brazilian President Lula da Silva Confirms February Visit to India

Brazil, Jan 27 : Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Monday confirmed that he will travel to India in February, before heading to Washington, following a telephone conversation with United States President Donald Trump.

Sharing details of the call on X, Lula said the two leaders agreed that his visit to the US would take place after his February trips to India and South Korea, with dates to be finalised. He noted that discussions covered bilateral ties and key global issues, including economic trends in both countries.

According to Lula, both sides exchanged views on economic indicators, expressing optimism about growth prospects. Trump reportedly observed that positive economic performance in the US and Brazil would benefit the wider region.

The Brazilian president said the conversation also reflected improving ties, pointing to the recent removal of a substantial portion of tariffs imposed on Brazilian exports. He added that Brazil had reiterated proposals to enhance cooperation with the US in tackling organised crime, including efforts against money laundering, arms trafficking, asset freezing of criminal networks and information-sharing on financial transactions. Lula said these proposals were well received.

On international issues, Lula said he suggested that the proposed Peace Council backed by the US should focus on the Gaza situation and include representation for Palestine. He also underlined the need for comprehensive reform of the United Nations, including an expansion of permanent membership of the Security Council.

The leaders also exchanged views on Venezuela, with Lula stressing the importance of maintaining regional peace and stability while working towards the welfare of the Venezuelan people.

Separately, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Lula recently reviewed India-Brazil relations, reaffirming the strength of the strategic partnership. In a social media post, PM Modi said the relationship was gaining momentum and emphasised the importance of cooperation in advancing the interests of the Global South. He said he looked forward to welcoming Lula to India.

An official readout said the two leaders recalled their meetings in Brazil and South Africa last year and noted progress in areas such as trade, investment, technology, defence, energy, health, agriculture and people to people exchanges. They also reiterated the significance of reformed multilateralism in addressing shared global challenges.

India and Brazil are members of the BRICS grouping, which has faced criticism from Trump over its use of national currencies in trade. The engagement between Modi and Lula comes amid ongoing tariff related tensions between India and the US, even as Trump has expressed confidence in reaching a favourable trade agreement with New Delhi and praised PM Modi’s leadership.

Earlier, the US had imposed additional duties on Brazilian products, some of which were later withdrawn, including tariffs on food exports.

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