After a legislature marked by Bolsonaro populism, the new Brazilian president, Luiz Inacio ‘Lula’ da Silvahas returned the country to the international scene with a intense diplomatic agenda where the Ukrainian war continues to loom large. Before traveling to Lisbon and Madrid, where he had lunch with the King and met with Pedro Sánchez, the veteran politician traveled to the United States to recover the constructive relationship that he already maintained with Washington in his previous stage at the helm of the Ibero-American giant. He also traveled to Beijing to talk with the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, who, as seen after the telephone conversation he had with the Ukrainian president on Wednesday, Volodimir Zelensky, It is a key element in trying to get Moscow and kyiv to come closer to a possible negotiation. Lula has also sent a trusted adviser to meet with Vladimir Putin and has filed a peace proposal based on the creation of a G-20 with countries that do not have direct interests in the conflict. It would be a kind of third way to build peace in Ukraine.
But what has raised blisters in the European Union it has been his refusal to send arms to kyiv, his equidistance with Russia and the suggestion that the West is in no hurry to end the war. That is why Sánchez, although ideologically close to Lula, made clear his support for Zelenski and ostensibly highlighted before the media gathered in Moncloa in the presence of the Brazilian president the difference between the attacked country and the aggressor country. Also Felipe VI, fully aligned with the Executive, stated at the luncheon honoring Lula that “Spain has firmly and consistently rejected Russia’s unjustifiable aggression in all international forums.”
Differences with Sánchez
Lula, who has his influence in the international arena, has taken advantage of his trip to Lisbon and Madrid to reduce the level of tension with Washington and Brussels condemning the Moscow aggression. Of course, in terms very different from those used by Sánchez and avoiding the attribution of responsibilities. The Brazilian has made an effort to focus on the need to stop the war and has reproached the international community for its lack of involvement in stopping the conflict. Sánchez, who admitted differences of “nuances” with his guest regarding Ukraine, wanted, however, to underline the new stage that is opening up between the two countries after Bolsonaro’s almost six years of isolation.
Lula’s trip to Madrid on the eve of the Spanish presidency of the EU has also served to prepare the summit between the EU and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac) that will take place in July in Brussels, and which could be decisive to close the tan postponed agreement between the EU and Mercosur. The EU as a whole is increasingly aware that it must recover its influence over Latin America if it does not want to see how China continues to increase its presence in the region. Spain, the traditional bridge between the two shores, can and should be key in this operation.