- The Brazilian Report
- Posts
- Lula 💔 Trump
Lula 💔 Trump
Ice-cold Brazil-US relations. What worries Brazilian CEOs. And a record-setting year for solar power producers
Good morning! President Lula is today expected to appoint diplomat André Corrêa do Lago as president of COP30, to be held in Belém in November. Lago is the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s current climate secretary — in the last two editions of the conference, COP was presided over by representatives of state-owned oil companies.

Trump's return sparks diplomatic jitters in Brazil

Chief Justice John Roberts administered the presidential oath of office to Donald Trump. Photo: GOP
The return of Donald Trump to the White House presents a diplomatic challenge for the Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva administration, which has sought to maintain a careful balance in Brazil’s relationships with the US and China — the country’s two largest trading partners.
👉 Why it matters. Lula’s aspiration to position Brazil as a neutral player on the global stage will likely face mounting pressure, as Trump has historically demanded unequivocal loyalty from his allies.
There’s beef. On the eve of the US election in November, Lula went out of his way to endorse Trump's adversary, Kamala Harris — and likened a Trump victory to “the return of Nazism and fascism in another guise.”
Icy cold. Lula and Trump have yet to speak directly. Since Trump’s election, communication between the two sides has been limited to formal exchanges, leaving key bilateral ties in a state of uncertainty.

☕ Wake up smarter
Brazil Daily delivers the top political and economic insights straight to your inbox — quick, sharp and ready before your first sip of coffee
Already a paying subscriber? Sign In.
This subscription also gets you:
- • 🌎 Latam Report
- • 🚜 Brazil Agro
- • 💼 Brazil Business
- • 🌳 Brazil Climate
- • 💬 Brazil Society
- • ⚽ Brazil Sports