The Brazilian invited Trudeau over during a phone conversation. (Photo: Ricardo Stuckert/PR)

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva spoke by telephone last Thursday (20) with the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau. According to Lula, it was a long conversation and touched on issues related to the environment and also to the war in Ukraine. The Brazilian also invited the Canadian leader to come to Brazil.

“I had a long and good conversation with the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau. We are talking about sustainable development and the fight against climate change. We also talked about the war in Ukraine and the importance of peace. And I invited Trudeau to come to Brazil,” Lula wrote in a social media post.

The conversation took place on the same day that Lula participated in the Virtual Major Economies Forum on Climate and Energy, an event hosted by United States President Joe Biden. At the time, Biden announced the transfer of US$500 million to the Amazon Fund for the next five years. The fund is maintained by countries like Norway and Germany and managed by the Brazilian government to promote actions to preserve the forest.

Prioritizing foreign policy, President Lula began his fourth international trip of this third term on Thursday. He is already in Portugal and will also travel to Spain. This is Lula’s first trip to Europe since his return to the presidency of the Republic.

Focusing on trade and investment, energy, mobility, technology and innovation and health, President Lula has an agenda in Portugal until April 25. In the country, Lula will be received this Saturday (22) by the President, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, and by the Prime Minister, António Costa.

The trip to Madrid, capital of Spain, is scheduled for April 25 and 26. President Lula will be received there by King Philip VI, as well as by the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez. In the country, Lula will also participate in meetings with businessmen.

With the trip to the two European countries, Lula begins to have bilateral meetings in seven countries in four months of his mandate. Since becoming president for the third time, he has visited Argentina, Uruguay, the United States, China and the United Arab Emirates.