Lula, Putin discuss stronger Brazil-Russia ties in phone call

BRASILIA - Russian President Vladimir Putin called Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to discuss cooperation among so-called Brics countries, whose loose alliance has been energised by US tariff policy.

The two leaders reaffirmed their determination to further strengthen their countries’ strategic partnership and coordination within Brics, according to the Kremlin.

Mr Putin initiated the call, which included a discussion of his talks with the US on Ukraine and Brazil-Russia cooperation, Mr Lula’s office said in a statement.

Brazil has become

a target of Donald Trump’s trade war

after the US president imposed higher tariffs in an effort to end the trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro on charges that he attempted a coup. 

Brazil has responded by seeking to expand trade with other partners, including China, India and South-east Asia.

Mr Lula has said Brazil won’t target the US with reciprocal tariffs in response to the 50 per cent trade levy Mr Trump placed on its goods, but will gauge interest for a joint response among

its Brics partners.

Mr Lula and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on Aug 7 and both reinforced the goal of expanding bilateral trade to more than US$20 billion (S$25 billion) by 2030.

While Brazil’s oil producers gained relief from Mr Trump’s tariffs, concern has emerged over the country’s dependence on Russian diesel after Mr Trump slapped

an extra tariff on India

for buying Russian energy. BLOOMBERG