Visiting China, Brazilian President Lula considers alliance with Beijing on Ukraine and economy

On Ukraine first, Lula’s ambition is implicit: to build a common peace initiative with China. The two countries have, each on their side, presented what they call a “peace plan”. The Chinese project is quite theoretical. The Brazilian plan is more concrete. In essence, Brazilian diplomacy suggests that Russia should withdraw from the areas conquered for a year in the Donbass, but that Ukraine should abandon Crimea. Moscow and kyiv have already responded with a plea of ​​inadmissibility.

But Lula intends to return to the charge after having convinced Xi Jinping, he will see him on Friday April 14. Brazil also imagines associating other Asian heavyweights with this initiative: India or Indonesia. On this subject, the South American giant is walking a tightrope. Brasilia condemns the Russian invasion but refuses any sanction against Moscow. And Lula, in an interview last year, spoke of a “shared responsibility” of Valdimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky in the conflict. The diplomatic initiative is difficult, there are many blows to take, judges the Brazilian press. But Lula seems determined to try his luck.

Emancipation of the dollar and peace plan for Ukraine

The other subject of this visit is trade: for the official Chinese press, this is the priority of this visit. And it will be on the menu on Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 April, when Lula travels to Shanghai. In fact, more than 20 agreements have already been signed at the end of March by a huge delegation of Brazilian bosses: at the end of March, it was the initial date of Lula’s trip, but the Brazilian president then had pneumonia and therefore stayed in the country , visit postponed to this week. On the other hand, the displacement of the economic delegation had been maintained with an important announcement at the key: the will of the two countries to exchange in their respective currencies, the yuan and the real. In other words, to emancipate oneself from the American dollar.

In recent years, China has become Brazil’s leading trading partner: 1/3 of Brazilian exports go to China! This is three times more than to the United States. Lula and Xi Jinping could go even further during this visit. Brazil is indeed planning to join the great Chinese infrastructure project of the new silk roadsIf this were the case, the greater part of Latin America would then switch to this project. This would be a major symbolic setback for the United States.

The presidency of the G20 in 2024

Lula is therefore seeking to reaffirm Brazil’s place on the world diplomatic scene. After the years of far-right president Jair Bolsonaro marked by the isolation of Brazil, Lula is returning to a very active diplomacy. He also intends to talk with Beijing about the climate issue. China remains the world’s leading polluter and Brazil is one of the lungs of the planet with the Amazon. Lula also knows that Brazil will chair the G20 next year, the “club” of the 20 richest countries. It therefore seeks to establish itself as a leader of the countries of the South and as an autonomous power on the international scene. With one ultimate goal: one day a seat for Brazil on the UN Security Council.