Lula's 4th term offers fresh push to India-Brazil ties

New Delhi: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's landmark fourth Presidential term has the promise to elevate India-Brazil ties to the next level given the 80-year-old leader's personal interest in furthering partnership with New Delhi.

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva or Lula as he is popularly known has been bullish on India since his first term in office and has taken special interest in broad-basing ties with New Delhi in the context of Global South solidarity and the urgent need for UN Security Council reforms allowing India and Brazil permanent seats at the high table. Notably, Brazil's NSA Celso Amorim made a low-profile visit to New Delhi soon after the BRICS Summit in September to further cement the strategic ties.

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Furthering the agenda of BRICS to ensure a multipolar world order is close to Lula's heart. Brazil is also among India's closest partners in the group sharing a similar approach to pressing international challenges. Experts on Latin American affairs said Lula's smart handling of US tariffs reflects his style of approaching the biggest power in the Western Hemisphere.

That Lula has developed a close chemistry with the Indian PM is evident from Narendra Modi's comments on Lula's election victory. The PM described Lula as a 'dear friend' and congratulated him on his remarkable re-election. Lula, known for his strong pro-Palestinian views, has been credited for alleviating millions out of poverty and assisting millions more to attain middle class status.

Lula's last state visit to India this February and his sixth overall witnessed the initiation of several landmark initiatives including in the field of rare earths, which is available in Brazil in plenty to power India's growth.

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Brazil has an estimated 21 million tonnes of rare earth elements or about a quarter of global reserves and next only to China's, along with 26% of the world's graphite, more than 90% of niobium and large deposits of nickel, lithium and copper.