Lula da Silva, the president of Brazil, touched down in Lisbon this Friday to reinforce his plan for steady placement on the world stage. Brazil aims to reassert itself on the international map, with a five‑day visit that deepens ties with Portugal, a nation linked by rich historical and cultural threads. Portugal has become a pivotal partner as Brazil recalibrates its relations across Europe after a tense four years under the previous administration. The two leaders are set to participate in the XIII Luso‑Brazil Summit on Saturday, with plans to sign agreements spanning education, science, and culture among other areas.
Lula has highlighted Portugal’s role as a bridge in dialogue with the European Union. The mission prioritizes unlocking the Mercosur trade deal, a goal both the Brazilian president and Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa have committed to advancing in the coming months. Their work during recent visits underscored a shared interest in accelerating this agreement, a topic Lula will also raise with Spanish President Pedro Sánchez during his upcoming stop in Spain.
controversial visit
The Brazilian president will remain in Portugal through Tuesday morning, coinciding with the 49th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution. He is expected to address Parliament, meeting with the president of Portugal to deliver remarks in a formal session. The visit has drawn criticism from several right‑wing parties, which view it as aligning ideologically with the socialist government. Outside the chamber, a demonstration was organized by a far‑right party, while the liberal enterprise sector will be represented only by its spokesperson.
The response from the main opposition, the Social Democratic Party, was more cautious. PSD leaders emphasized the importance of Lula’s visit despite disagreements over possible solutions to the war in Ukraine. In recent days, Portugal’s right block, including the PSD, criticized Lula’s prior statements about arms shipments by the United States and the European Union in the Ukraine conflict, following his earlier stops in Asia and the Gulf.
bilateral relations
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has downplayed the rhetoric around the visit, stressing its long‑standing importance and noting that such engagement has been planned for months. He remarked that diplomatic relations with other nations are not contingent on alignment with Portugal’s internal policies, underscoring a broader commitment to international dialogue. The Saturday meeting between the two heads of state is scheduled to take place shortly before the bilateral talks between their delegations in the afternoon.
Economically, energy and aviation emerge as core interests. Portuguese firms such as Galp and EDP maintain substantial investments in Brazil, while Brazilian companies have expanded their footprint in Portugal’s aviation sector and related industries. This collaboration has contributed to job creation in Portugal’s interior regions. Authorities on both sides aim to sign at least 13 bilateral agreements by the close of the summit.
tight schedule
Beyond the formal talks, Lula will meet with Brazilian business leaders in Portugal and engage with the Brazilian community, which numbers around 300,000 residents—the largest Brazilian diaspora in the country. The president will also attend the opening ceremony of a major cultural honor, the Camões Award, a landmark recognition in Portuguese literature. Notably, Brazilian singer‑songwriter Chico Buarque did not accept the award in 2019 amid political tensions with the previous government. The current visit marks a renewed opportunity to celebrate cultural exchange and bilateral friendship in a broader European context. (Source: Diplomatic briefings and regional coverage.)