National Security Council communications director John Kirby said in Washington Friday: “I can confirm that we are planning a visit.” President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, will meet in Brazil next week with officials from both the incoming administration and the administration of outgoing President Jair Bolsonaro.
“We look forward to welcoming President Lula here in due course,” Kirby said. He did not give a date. Left-wing politician Lula won in a runoff against incumbent right-wing Bolsonaro at the end of October. The 77-year-old was already president from 2003 to the end of 2010. The official change of power is on January 1. Bolsonaro had good relations with Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump, also a right-wing populist. During Biden’s tenure, relations between the two countries cooled.
(SDA)