Lula, Macron Hold Phone Call on Key Issues
(MENAFN) Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva spoke for nearly an hour with French President Emmanuel Macron, covering a wide range of global and bilateral concerns, including trade disputes, climate action, and geopolitical conflicts.
“During our conversation, I condemned the political use of trade tariffs against Brazil and reported the measures our government has taken to protect Brazilian workers and companies,” Lula wrote on X on Wednesday, referring to his call with Macron.
Lula said he had informed the French leader about Brazil’s formal appeal to the World Trade Organization over what he described as baseless tariffs imposed by the United States.
The Brazilian president reaffirmed his country’s push to expand trade relationships, emphasizing the urgency of finalizing a long-delayed trade pact between Mercosur and the European Union under Brazil’s current leadership of the South American bloc.
Meanwhile, Macron, also posting on X, signaled openness to such an agreement, but underscored the importance of protecting EU agricultural interests. “As long as it safeguards the interests of our French and European agriculture, and serves our respective economies,” he said, France remains committed to an “ambitious” EU-Mercosur deal.
The two leaders also reiterated their shared goal of strengthening ties between the Global South and developed economies “in favor of trade based on multilaterally agreed rules.” Lula added that “the defense of multilateralism” would feature prominently in the upcoming BRICS virtual summit this September.
Turning to environmental concerns, Lula described the 2025 UN Climate Conference (COP-30), to be hosted in the Amazonian city of Belem, as a decisive moment for global climate action. “The COP of truth, where it will become clear which countries believe in science,” he stated.
He pressed the European Union and its member states to adopt stronger climate targets aligned with global needs, while highlighting Brazil’s own “ambitious, nationally determined contributions.” Lula also confirmed Macron's support for the Belem summit and his personal attendance.
On international security, Lula said the leaders addressed the war in Ukraine, with Macron acknowledging Brazil’s role in the Friends of Peace Group, which includes China, as a constructive diplomatic force.
Expressing alarm over global defense budgets, Lula noted that “around 700 million people still go hungry,” while military spending continues to rise. He emphasized Brazil’s recent removal from the UN FAO Hunger Map and called for sweeping reforms of multilateral bodies to create more equitable global governance.
“In the bilateral sphere, we committed to deepening cooperation in defense matters,” he added.
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