Trump-Lula meeting in Malaysia under discussion
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Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (left) and US President Donald Trump are due to travel to the Asean summit in Malaysia that starts on Oct 26.
PHOTO: AFP
Follow topic:
- Trump and Lula may meet at the Asean summit in Malaysia, after a "friendly call" earlier in October, according to a US official.
- Relations soured due to Trump's tariffs and sanctions over Bolsonaro's trial, which he called a "witch hunt".
- Lula asked Trump to remove the tariffs and sanctions during their phone call, aiming to improve relations.
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WASHINGTON - Talks are under way for a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at an upcoming regional summit in Malaysia, officials from both countries told AFP on Oct 22.
The two leaders have begun to patch up their differences after months of bad blood over the trial and conviction of Mr Trump’s ally, far-right former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro.
Republican Mr Trump and leftist Mr Lula are both due to travel to the Asean summit in Malaysia
“President Trump has expressed his interest in meeting President Lula following their friendly call” earlier this month, a senior Trump administration official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
“There are discussions about facilitating such a meeting while President Trump is in Malaysia.”
A Brazilian presidential source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “There are discussions with the Americans about a possible bilateral meeting.”
Mr Trump has instituted a 50 per cent tariff on many Brazilian products
In September, Brazil’s Supreme Court sentenced Bolsonaro to 27 years in prison
But relations between Mr Trump and Mr Lula began to thaw when the two 79-year-old leaders had a brief meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September.
They then spoke by phone on Oct 6 and first raised the possibility of meeting at the Asean summit.
During that meeting, Mr Lula asked Mr Trump to lift the tariffs and sanctions. AFP