In Brazil, Macron and Lula display their complicity, despite some differences on Ukraine
Visiting Brazil for two and a half days before leaving for France on Thursday March 28, Emmanuel Macron practically did not leave his Brazilian counterpart Lula. He affirmed their friendship as well as their desire to work together on the international scene, despite certain differences of opinion on the war in Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron warmly shakes hands with his Brazilian counterpart, Lula da Silva, during a meeting at the presidential palace in Brasilia, March 28, 2024. © Ueslei Marcelino / Reuters
By: RFI with AFP
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In each image, the two heads of state are arm in arm, hand in hand, or with a big smile on their lips. Thursday March 28, the two French and Brazilian presidents
displayed their agreement
on major international issues, the subject of Emmanuel Macron's last day of visit, after having addressed questions of defense partnership, then economic issues on Wednesday.
The welcome was both solemn and warm at the presidential palace in Brasilia on Thursday. Emmanuel Macron's three-day state visit to the Latin American giant,
the first visit to Latin America
since 2017, concluded by recognizing the all-out partnership and "
diplomatic intimacy
" between the two countries, according to the expression used Wednesday in Sao Paulo by the French president.
During a press conference, the
French president
celebrated "
the spirit of resistance
" and congratulated his host for having "
restored democracy
", particularly after the assault on the presidential venue by a crowd of extreme supporters -right furious after Jair Bolsonaro's defeat against Lula in January 2023.
Brazilian presidency of the G20
The Brazilian head of state saw in the Brazil-France relationship a “
bridge between the global South and the developed world
”, while his French counterpart praised his action. He also gave his support to the
Brazilian presidency
of the G20, in particular on a reform of global governance and taxation of the richest, two themes dear to the icon of the left.
Also, the two leaders did not hesitate to downplay their differences of views on the war in Ukraine. But the moment of truth will come at the G20 heads of state summit in November in Rio de Janeiro, at a time when the wars in Ukraine and Gaza challenge multilateralism.
The subject of Ukraine quickly broached
Westerners support kyiv at arm's length, while Lula stood out in the past by judging shared responsibilities in Ukraine, and refused to isolate Russia. However, would he go so far as to invite Russian President Vladimir Putin to the next summit of the most industrialized countries?
“
The meaning of this club is that it must be consensual with the 19 others, it will be the work of Brazilian diplomacy
,” Emmanuel Macron slipped during the press conference. “
If there is an appointment that can be useful, it must be done. If it is a meeting that is not useful and creates division, we should not do it
,” he said. We must be “
at the service of peace and the common interest
”, he insisted.
For his part, Lula only noted that “
diversity
” must be accepted within organizations like the G20, without going any further. He also estimated that “
the two stubborn people will have to get along
”, in reference to Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
If the latter bluntly reiterated that the fate of Ukraine is not Brazil's priority, the
situation in neighboring Venezuela
affects him much more. On this subject, the French and Brazilian leaders were in unison, condemning the exclusion of the opponent Corina Yoris from the presidential election next July. “
We very firmly condemn the exclusion of a serious and credible candidate from this process
,” declared Emmanuel Macron. Lula considered
his offside against President Nicolas Maduro, in power for eleven years, “
serious ”.
“Bromance” on social networks
Protection of the Amazon
, cooperation in the manufacturing of submarines, economy: Emmanuel Macron and Lula worked for three days to highlight a very broad partnership. With lots of smiles, warm gestures and handshakes, the two presidents added a personal dimension to this visit, to the delight of Brazilian Internet users.
Some have compared the images of my visit to Brazil to those of a wedding, I tell them: it was one! France loves Brazil and Brazil loves France!
Thank you, dear @LulaOficial, dear @JanjaLula, thank you to all the Brazilians I was able to meet, for your welcome.… pic.twitter.com/cXfeEuYXBQ
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) March 28, 2024
Several images, most of them published on Lula's official accounts on social networks, were widely distributed on the internet with montages or humorous comments highlighting the "bromance" between the two leaders.
“
Some have compared the images of my visit to Brazil to those of a wedding, I tell them: it was one! France loves Brazil and Brazil loves France! »
,
Assumed Emmanuel Macron
on
by the two heads of state walking hand in hand in the Amazon rainforest.
Also read: Emmanuel Macron visits Brazil, diplomatic reunion after years of tension
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