UPDATED
Lula, Macron find common ground, despite Ukraine shadowBy AFP
March 28, 2024
French President Emmanuel Macron wrapped up his three-day tour of the Latin American giant with a trip to the modernist capital Brasilia
- Copyright POOL/AFP Ludovic MARIN
Valérie LEROUX
French President Emmanuel Macron and his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday displayed their unity on major global issues, while skirting differences on the war in Ukraine.
Macron wrapped up his three-day tour of the Latin American giant with a solemn, but warm, trip to the presidential palace in the modernist capital Brasilia.
The French leader paid tribute to “the spirit of resistance” of Lula’s government for “restoring democracy” after a crowd of extreme-right supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro stormed the seats of power in the city in January 2023.
Lula hailed a relationship between the two countries as one that created “a bridge between the global South and the developed world.”
While the two men firmly reset the frosty ties of the Bolsonaro years, they retain deep differences over the war in Ukraine, a subject which only briefly reared its head.
While France and the West support Kyiv wholeheartedly, Lula has in the past said that Ukraine and Russia share responsibility over the conflict and has refused to isolate Moscow.
– Putin at G20 meet? –
Responding to a question from a journalist, Macron said that Brazil, as the current chair of the G20, could invite Russia’s President Vladimir Putin to a summit in Rio de Janeiro in November if other members agreed.
“The meaning of this club is that there must be consensus with the 19 others. That will be a job for Brazilian diplomacy,” he said.
If such a meeting can be “useful, it must be done,” Macron said.
Lula responded only that “diversity” must be accepted in organizations like the G20.
Putin missed last year’s G20 summit in the Indian capital New Delhi, avoiding possible political opprobrium and any risk of criminal detention under an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant.
In September 2023, Lula said there was “no way” that Putin would be arrested if he attended the Rio de Janeiro summit.
Shortly after, he backtracked and said that it would be up to the justice system to decide on Putin’s eventual arrest and not his government.
Lula’s only remarks on the conflict were that “the two stubborn” leaders will “have to get along,” referring to Putin and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky.
– Unity on Venezuela –
However, he highlighted that Ukraine was not Brazil’s priority, and turned to a crisis in his own neighborhood, that he and Macron agreed upon: Venezuela.
Both leaders condemned the exclusion of the main opposition coalition’s chosen candidate, Corina Yoris, 80, from July 28 elections.
“We very firmly condemn the exclusion of a serious and credible candidate from this process,” Macron said.
Lula described the situation as “serious” and said there was “no legal or political explanation for banning an opponent from being a candidate.”
“I told Maduro that the most important thing to restore normality in Venezuela was to avoid any problems in the electoral process, that the elections be held in the most democratic way possible.”
From the protection of the Amazon to cooperation in the building of submarines and economic ties, the two leaders showed off the broad Franco-Brazilian partnership over the three-day visit.
Macron and Lula also brushed over tensions about the long-delayed EU-Mercosur free trade agreement, which Brazil has pushed for and France has blocked.
Macron blasted the deal as “a really bad agreement” and said it should be buried in favor of a new one that “is responsible from a development, climate and biodiversity point of view.”
Lula said he was “very calm” and noted only that Brazil “does not negotiate with France” but with the EU.
The two leaders’ close relationship was highlighted by a warm meeting in the Amazon, in which they were pictured beaming and clasping hands, to the delight of Brazilians who spawned a raft of memes comparing the images to a wedding album.
Macron and Lula’s ‘bromance’ sets social media fans alight
By AFP
March 28, 2024
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva (L) and French President Emmanuel Macron smile together at Combu Island, Brazil, on March 26, 2024 - Copyright AFP STR
Wedding photos or a diplomatic visit? The apparent “bromance” between French President Emmanuel Macron and his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has set social media fans alight.
During his three-day visit to Brazil, 46-year-old Macron was pictured smiling and warmly embracing Lula, 78, during a trip to the Amazonian rainforest.
Many of the images have since circulated wildly among social media users in Brazil alongside montages and witty comments.
One picture showing the leaders raising their arms underneath a large tree has been edited to show them holding red balloons in the shape of a heart.
Another portrays the pair hand in hand, smiling as they look at the horizon while floating in a boat along the Amazon River.
“They are going to marry in the Amazon and have their honeymoon in Paris,” joked one user on X, while others said pictures from the trip could make up a wedding album.
Macron’s warm relations with Lula mark a departure from the frosty ties between the French leader and Brazil’s former right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro, who led the country from 2019 to 2022.
His trip, which will end Thursday in Brasilia when he meets Lula at the presidential palace, saw the two leaders announce a billion-dollar green investment plan for the Amazon.
France, the seventh-largest economy in the world, and Brazil, the ninth-largest, are considered key players in a geopolitical scene marked by rivalry between China and the United States.
Paris sees Brasilia as a bridge to large emerging economies whose voices Brazil is trying to amplify through its presidency of the G20, and membership of the BRICS+ group.
Macron quips about cuddly 'wedding' pics with Lula
Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – French President Emmanuel Macron joined social media users Thursday in their jokes that likened his cozy pictures with Brazilian President Lula to those from a wedding album.
Issued on: 29/03/2024 -
WHAT IT WAS REALLY ALL ABOUT
Valérie LEROUX
President Emmanuel Macron and counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Wednesday celebrated the launch of Brazil’s third French-designed submarine, which will help secure the country’s immense coastline, dubbed the “Blue Amazon.”
The two men highlighted the importance of their countries’ defense partnership during a time of major global unrest, at a ceremony at Brazil’s ultra-modern naval base in Itaguai near Rio de Janeiro.
It is here that Brazil built the Tonelero, the third of four planned conventional diesel attack submarines, with training, equipment, and technical assistance from France.
Under cloudy skies, the submarine was christened by First Lady Rosangela da Silva, nicknamed “Janja.”
France and Brazil’s defense ties “will allow two important countries, each on a continent, to prepare so that we can face this adversity, without worrying about any type of war, because we are defenders of peace,” said Lula.
Despite differences, notably on the Ukraine war, Macron said “the great peaceful powers of Brazil and France” had “the same vision of the world.”
Macron is on a whirlwind tour of Brazil, a major economic ally, which kicked off Tuesday with the launch of a plan to raise over a billion dollars in green investments to protect the Brazilian and Guyanese Amazon.
– Jungle bromance –
The visit, the first by a French president to Latin America’s economic giant in over a decade, is also a move to reset ties which had deteriorated significantly under former president Jair Bolsonaro.
A warm meeting between Macron and Lula in the Amazon, in which the two men were pictured beaming and clasping hands in the jungle, spawned a raft of internet memes about their bromance.
The cozy scenes — a far cry from the days Bolsonaro lobbed insults at Macron’s wife — continued Wednesday at the submarine launch.
With its 8,500 kilometers of coastline, Brazil is seeking to ensure the security of what it calls the “blue Amazon,” its immense exclusive economic zone through which more than 95 percent of its foreign trade passes and where it extracts 95 percent of its oil.
The construction of the submarines was outlined in a 2008 deal between Lula and former French president Nicolas Sarkozy, which also included the purchase of 50 Caracal helicopters.
The fourth submarine, the Angostura, will be launched in 2025.
– France skirts around nuclear sub –
Brazil is also planning to build its first nuclear-powered submarine, the Alvaro Alberto, a project that has suffered significant delays, mainly due to budget constraints.
The French naval defense manufacturer Naval Group is supporting the design and construction of the submarine, except for the nuclear boiler which is being designed by the Brazilians.
Brasilia is however trying to convince Paris to increase technology transfers to help it integrate the reactor into the submarine and sell it equipment linked to nuclear propulsion.
France has been reticent to transfer such technology due to the challenges of nuclear proliferation.
“If Brazil wants to have access to knowledge of nuclear technology, it is not to wage war. We want this knowledge to assure all countries that want peace that Brazil will be at their side,” said Lula.
Macron told Brazil “France will be at your side” during the development of the nuclear-powered submarines, without announcing specific assistance.
“I want us to open the chapter for new submarines… that we look nuclear propulsion in the face while being perfectly respectful of all non-proliferation commitments,” he said.
Later on Wednesday, Macron arrived in the economic capital Sao Paulo to promote his country to Brazilian investors.
France is the third largest investor in Brazil, with more than 40 billion euros in direct investments in the country.
“Brazil is not up to par in terms of investment in France when you see the size and expertise of Brazilian conglomerates,” said the Elysee presidential palace.
On Thursday Lula will welcome Macron to the Planalto presidential palace in the capital Brasilia.
Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – French President Emmanuel Macron joined social media users Thursday in their jokes that likened his cozy pictures with Brazilian President Lula to those from a wedding album.
Issued on: 29/03/2024 -
Brazil President Lula and French President Emmanuel Macron hold hands as they share a bilateral meeting while sailing at Guajara Bay off Belem, Brazil, on March 26, 2024 in this handout image from the Brazilian presidency © Ricardo STUCKERT / Brazilian Presidency/AFP
Images of the pair smiling and warmly embracing during Macron's three-day visit to Brazil circulated online this week alongside light-hearted captions and montages suggesting a loving relationship between the leaders.
"Some have compared the pictures of my visit to Brazil to those of a wedding," Macron wrote Thursday on X.
"I tell them it was one. France loves Brazil and Brazil loves France," he said.
Macron's tweet was accompanied by picture of himself and Lula smiling during the visit, overlaid on the background of a poster for the romantic 2016 film "La La Land."
Lula responded to Macron's tweet, which was also shared in Portuguese, with emojis of the Brazil and France flags alongside two small love hearts.
One picture shared on social media this week showed the leaders raising their arms underneath a large tree in the Brazilian jungle was edited to show them holding red balloons in the shape of a heart.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva (L) and French President Emmanuel Macron smile together at Combu Island, Brazil, on March 26, 2024 © Ludovic MARIN / AFP
"They are going to marry in the Amazon and have their honeymoon in Paris," joked one user on X, while others said pictures from the trip could make up a wedding album.
Macron's trip to Brazil saw the two leaders announce a billion-dollar green investment plan for the Amazon.
Lula hailed the relationship between the two countries as one that created "a bridge between the global South and the developed world."
Macron's warm relations with Lula mark a departure from the frosty ties between the French leader and Brazil's former right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro, who led the country from 2019 to 2022.
© 2024 AFP
Images of the pair smiling and warmly embracing during Macron's three-day visit to Brazil circulated online this week alongside light-hearted captions and montages suggesting a loving relationship between the leaders.
"Some have compared the pictures of my visit to Brazil to those of a wedding," Macron wrote Thursday on X.
"I tell them it was one. France loves Brazil and Brazil loves France," he said.
Macron's tweet was accompanied by picture of himself and Lula smiling during the visit, overlaid on the background of a poster for the romantic 2016 film "La La Land."
Lula responded to Macron's tweet, which was also shared in Portuguese, with emojis of the Brazil and France flags alongside two small love hearts.
One picture shared on social media this week showed the leaders raising their arms underneath a large tree in the Brazilian jungle was edited to show them holding red balloons in the shape of a heart.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva (L) and French President Emmanuel Macron smile together at Combu Island, Brazil, on March 26, 2024 © Ludovic MARIN / AFP
"They are going to marry in the Amazon and have their honeymoon in Paris," joked one user on X, while others said pictures from the trip could make up a wedding album.
Macron's trip to Brazil saw the two leaders announce a billion-dollar green investment plan for the Amazon.
Lula hailed the relationship between the two countries as one that created "a bridge between the global South and the developed world."
Macron's warm relations with Lula mark a departure from the frosty ties between the French leader and Brazil's former right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro, who led the country from 2019 to 2022.
© 2024 AFP
'Bromance' getaway: French President Emmanuel Macron wraps up 3-day Brazil visit
Issued on: 29/03/2024 -
French President Emmanuel Macron and his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday displayed their unity on major global issues, while skirting differences on the war in Ukraine. Macron wrapped up his three-day tour of the Latin American giant with a solemn, but warm, trip to the presidential palace in the modernist capital Brasilia. FRANCE 24's International Affairs Commentator Douglas Herbert tells us more.
Issued on: 29/03/2024 -
French President Emmanuel Macron and his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday displayed their unity on major global issues, while skirting differences on the war in Ukraine. Macron wrapped up his three-day tour of the Latin American giant with a solemn, but warm, trip to the presidential palace in the modernist capital Brasilia. FRANCE 24's International Affairs Commentator Douglas Herbert tells us more.
04:05 Video by: Douglas HERBERT
WHAT IT WAS REALLY ALL ABOUT
Macron, Lula hail defense ties at submarine launch
By AFP
March 27, 2024
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (L) and French President Emmanuel Macron arrive for the launching of the Tonelero submarine at the Itaguai naval base
By AFP
March 27, 2024
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (L) and French President Emmanuel Macron arrive for the launching of the Tonelero submarine at the Itaguai naval base
- Copyright POOL/AFP Jacques WITT
Valérie LEROUX
President Emmanuel Macron and counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Wednesday celebrated the launch of Brazil’s third French-designed submarine, which will help secure the country’s immense coastline, dubbed the “Blue Amazon.”
The two men highlighted the importance of their countries’ defense partnership during a time of major global unrest, at a ceremony at Brazil’s ultra-modern naval base in Itaguai near Rio de Janeiro.
It is here that Brazil built the Tonelero, the third of four planned conventional diesel attack submarines, with training, equipment, and technical assistance from France.
Under cloudy skies, the submarine was christened by First Lady Rosangela da Silva, nicknamed “Janja.”
France and Brazil’s defense ties “will allow two important countries, each on a continent, to prepare so that we can face this adversity, without worrying about any type of war, because we are defenders of peace,” said Lula.
Despite differences, notably on the Ukraine war, Macron said “the great peaceful powers of Brazil and France” had “the same vision of the world.”
Macron is on a whirlwind tour of Brazil, a major economic ally, which kicked off Tuesday with the launch of a plan to raise over a billion dollars in green investments to protect the Brazilian and Guyanese Amazon.
– Jungle bromance –
The visit, the first by a French president to Latin America’s economic giant in over a decade, is also a move to reset ties which had deteriorated significantly under former president Jair Bolsonaro.
A warm meeting between Macron and Lula in the Amazon, in which the two men were pictured beaming and clasping hands in the jungle, spawned a raft of internet memes about their bromance.
The cozy scenes — a far cry from the days Bolsonaro lobbed insults at Macron’s wife — continued Wednesday at the submarine launch.
With its 8,500 kilometers of coastline, Brazil is seeking to ensure the security of what it calls the “blue Amazon,” its immense exclusive economic zone through which more than 95 percent of its foreign trade passes and where it extracts 95 percent of its oil.
The construction of the submarines was outlined in a 2008 deal between Lula and former French president Nicolas Sarkozy, which also included the purchase of 50 Caracal helicopters.
The fourth submarine, the Angostura, will be launched in 2025.
– France skirts around nuclear sub –
Brazil is also planning to build its first nuclear-powered submarine, the Alvaro Alberto, a project that has suffered significant delays, mainly due to budget constraints.
The French naval defense manufacturer Naval Group is supporting the design and construction of the submarine, except for the nuclear boiler which is being designed by the Brazilians.
Brasilia is however trying to convince Paris to increase technology transfers to help it integrate the reactor into the submarine and sell it equipment linked to nuclear propulsion.
France has been reticent to transfer such technology due to the challenges of nuclear proliferation.
“If Brazil wants to have access to knowledge of nuclear technology, it is not to wage war. We want this knowledge to assure all countries that want peace that Brazil will be at their side,” said Lula.
Macron told Brazil “France will be at your side” during the development of the nuclear-powered submarines, without announcing specific assistance.
“I want us to open the chapter for new submarines… that we look nuclear propulsion in the face while being perfectly respectful of all non-proliferation commitments,” he said.
Later on Wednesday, Macron arrived in the economic capital Sao Paulo to promote his country to Brazilian investors.
France is the third largest investor in Brazil, with more than 40 billion euros in direct investments in the country.
“Brazil is not up to par in terms of investment in France when you see the size and expertise of Brazilian conglomerates,” said the Elysee presidential palace.
On Thursday Lula will welcome Macron to the Planalto presidential palace in the capital Brasilia.
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