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Lula's foreign policy will seek to rebuild bridges with South American

Protagonism in the climate change issue is among the priorities
Karine Melo
Published on 26/12/2022 - 13:16
Brasília
Palácio do Itamaraty na Esplanada dos Ministérios
© Fabio Rodrigues Pozzebom/Agência Brasil

Foreign policy is among the priorities of President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who takes office on January 1st. One of the challenges of the Foreign Relations portfolio, under the command of Ambassador Mauro Vieira, will be to regain the leading role in confronting climate change.

The first step in this direction occurred a few days after the second round of the elections, when Lula, already president-elect, went to Egypt to participate in COP27, the United Nations Climate Conference. On the occasion, Lula said that Brazil is "back" and proposed that a new climate conference be held in the Amazon.

Also in the sights of the new government is the strengthening of mechanisms such as the Mercosur and the Brics, a group formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The defense of a structural reform of the United Nations Organization (UNO) and the conquest of a seat on the entity's Security Council are other foreign policy challenges.

The strengthening of strategic commercial partnerships, such as with China, is also a priority. The Asian country accounted for the largest share of Brazilian exports in 2021: 31.28% of the total, or US$ 87.7 billion.

International agenda

Lula's first international trip after taking office as President of the Republic will be to Argentina, where he will participate in the Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), at the end of January. According to the future chancellor, Mauro Vieira, Lula intends to implement a policy of rebuilding bridges, first with South American neighbors, reestablishing all mechanisms of contact and negotiation, and also with Latin America in general.
Lula's trips to the United States and China are also planned for the first quarter.