Lula visits Washington to restart Pakistan-US relations, foreign media: ideological differences may persist

　　[Global Times Special Correspondent Li Zhun in the United States] Reuters reported on February 10 that Brazilian President Lula left for the United States the day before and held talks with US President Biden at the White House on the afternoon of the 10th local time.

　　This trip is Lula's first official visit to the United States since he took office at the beginning of the year.

Brazil's foreign ministry said support for democracy, combating the far right and environmental protection would be on the agenda of Lula's visit.

Foreign reports believe that this visit will affect the direction of US-Pakistan relations-two US officials confirmed that the Biden administration is considering joining a US$1.3 billion investment plan for the protection of the Amazon rainforest, which shows that the relationship between the two countries is being readjusted.

Previously, under the leadership of former President Bolsonaro, Brazil's relationship with the Biden administration has not been very good.

Qatar Al Jazeera stated that Lula's victory gave Brazil hope to repair the country's damaged diplomatic relations during Bolsonaro's tenure.

Nasser, a senior adviser to Brazil's foreign minister, said the visit, which came just weeks after Lula was sworn in in early January, underscored how much the Brazilian president "values" Brazil-U.S. relations. Chance".

　　The British "Financial Times" stated that Lula and Biden will seek to restart Pakistan-US relations at the White House talks.

During the final years of Bolsonaro's administration, bilateral relations between Pakistan and the United States were severely strained.

A senior Brazilian foreign ministry official said Bolsonaro's admiration of former U.S. President Donald Trump was "almost like a fanatic."

After Biden took office in 2021, the bilateral relationship "completely shrank", "now it is time to pick it up again and start cooperation."

　　However, there are still differences between the United States and Brazil.

Al Jazeera believes that ideological differences between the two sides may persist.

Brazil's attitude towards Russia and China is very different from that of the United States.

Experts from the Quincy Institute, an American think tank, believe that Brazil does not necessarily stand with the United States, China or Russia, but seeks to carve out a unique role for itself in the Western Hemisphere and the world.

Brazil, Russia and China are all members of the BRICS bloc of emerging economies, which is widely seen as a major rival to the G7, which includes the United States.

Nasser noted that while Brazil was "firmly in the democratic camp," Brazil and the United States did not always see eye-to-eye on how to support democratic ideals abroad. "We are also very aware of the need to respect the the sacred principles of national sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of third parties".

　　(Source: Global Times Author: Li Zhun)