Brazil’s Lula to meet with Biden in February

By Bala Chambers

BUENOS AIRES (AA) - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will meet with his US counterpart Joe Biden in Washington, D.C. on Feb.10.

Lula met in early December with White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, where he received an invitation to meet with Biden

According to the G1 news outlet, Lula's invitation to the US was reinforced in a phone call between his Foreign Affairs Minister Mauro Vieira and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Lula's first official trip abroad since assuming office on Jan 1. will take place next week, when he heads to Argentina on Jan. 24, where the former union leader will meet with Argentine President Alberto Fernandez.

In Argentina, Lula will participate in the summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and also visit Uruguay.

In the near future, Lula is also expected to head to China and Portugal, although no dates have been confirmed according to G1.

Lula has previously highlighted the need to strengthen Brazil's position internationally following what analysts have described as former President Jair Bolsonaro's isolationist policies regarding the South American nation's foreign policy.

Last month, Vieira touched on Brazil's foreign policy, underscoring that Lula is keen to “rebuild bridges” with “traditional partners” including the US, China and the European Union and resume cooperation with Africa.

China and the US are two of Brazil's biggest trade partners.