247 - President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) landed this Wednesday (22) in Jakarta, capital of Indonesia, beginning his official trip through Asia. The visit includes commitments in two countries and has as its highlight the meeting with the President of the United States, Donald Trump, which will take place on Sunday (26) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, during the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit.

According to Folha de S.Paulo, the main agenda of the meeting will be the attempt to reverse the tariffs imposed by Washington on Brazil, in addition to addressing recent diplomatic measures considered offensive by Brasília. Among them are the application of the Magnitsky Act against Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes and the travel restrictions imposed on Health Minister Alexandre Padilha and his family.

Rapprochement and trade between Brazil and the USA

The Planalto Palace sees the meeting as an opportunity for rapprochement between the two countries. Lula's diplomatic team worked to ensure the dialogue took place in a neutral location, avoiding the risk of embarrassment on US soil.

The meeting was agreed upon after a brief conversation between the leaders during the UN General Assembly in September and a subsequent video conference in which Lula asked Trump to remove the tariffs. Brazilian advisers say it's an attempt to"reestablish a direct political channel" with Washington and unlock bilateral trade.

Venezuelan crisis and regional security

According to the report, another sensitive topic in the talks will be the crisis in Venezuela. The Brazilian government believes that recent US attacks on Venezuelan vessels could increase the risk of a military incursion and destabilize the region.

Lula is expected to warn Trump that an attempt at"regime change" in Caracas could backfire, strengthening organized crime and weakening South American borders. Brasília sees regional stability as essential to preserving the continent's security and economic balance.

Academic recognition and presence in Asean

In addition to the meeting with Trump, Lula will be honored by the National University of Malaysia with an honorary doctorate. The president will also participate in the ASEAN summit at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, becoming the first Brazilian leader to attend the event.

Brazil has"sectoral dialogue partner" status in ASEAN, which allows it to participate in some meetings without voting on the bloc's decisions. The association is comprised of ten Southeast Asian countries, and Timor-Leste is expected to join later this year.

Cooperation with Indonesia and new investments

Before heading to Malaysia, Lula will have an official visit in Jakarta, where he will reciprocate a visit from Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. The meeting aims to expand economic, agricultural, and energy cooperation between the countries, with a focus on sustainability and bilateral trade.