Protection and sustainable development of the Amazon, cooperation in the manufacturing of submarines, economy... During a three-day visit to Brazil, Emmanuel Macron and Lula worked to highlight a very broad partnership between the two countries even if it meant putting aside their differences not only on Ukraine but also on the trade agreement between the European Union and the South American Mercosur bloc denounced by farmers in France during the agricultural crisis at the beginning of the year.
No, it was time for smiles, hugs and handshakes. Social networks were amused by a “bromance” between the 46-year-old former banker and the 78-year-old former union leader. “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! », even joked the French president on X at the time of his departure. Macron celebrated “the spirit of resistance” and congratulated his host for having “restored democracy” during a joint press conference.
Algumas pessoas compararam as images da minha visited ao Brasil com as de um casamento, e eu digo a elas: foi um casamento! To France ama o Brasil eo Brasil ama to France!
Obrigado, @LulaOficial and @JanjaLula, obliged to all the brasileiros that we know, with accompaniment.… pic.twitter.com/IlFsOW96WW
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) March 28, 2024
At the end of this visit, partnerships were signed across the board. Macron saw in the Brazil-France relationship a “bridge between the global South and the developed world”. In addition, the French president gave his support to the Brazilian presidency of the G20, in particular on a reform of global governance but also on taxation of the richest, two themes dear to the icon of the left. Issues which will be discussed at the G20 heads of state summit in November in Rio de Janeiro.
A summit during which fault lines could be more visible due to differences over the war in Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza. Westerners, and in particular France, support kyiv at arm's length. For his part, Lula has stood out in the past by judging that responsibilities are shared in Ukraine and has refused to isolate Russia.
“The meaning of this club is that it must be consensual with the 19 others, it will be the work of Brazilian diplomacy,” said Emmanuel Macron. 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.
On the other hand, the two presidents have united on the question of Venezuela. They condemned the exclusion of opponent Corina Yoris from the July presidential election. “We very firmly condemn the exclusion of a serious and credible candidate from this process,” declared Emmanuel Macron. Lula considered his removal from play against President Nicolas Maduro, in power for 11 years, “serious”. The Brazilian leader had until then defended his Venezuelan counterpart in the face of criticism from the international community, even describing accusations of authoritarianism as “narrative”.