Jan. 9 (UPI) — Within the wake of latest political unrest in Brazil, U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday invited Brazil’s new President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to Washington, D.C.
Biden spoke with Lula by cellphone, reaffirming the US’ help for Brazil’s democracy as chaos continues to unravel within the streets. Demonstrations by supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro have turned harmful in latest days with greater than 1,200 individuals arrested for rioting.
“President Biden condemned the violence and the assault on democratic establishments and on the peaceable switch of energy,” a joint assertion from the White Home mentioned.
“The 2 leaders pledged to work carefully collectively on the problems confronting the US and Brazil, together with local weather change, financial growth, and peace and safety.”
Far-right protesters have contested Lula’s election win whereas Bolsonaro refuses to concede defeat. The previous president has repeated unfounded claims that malfunctioning voting machines had been the explanation for his loss in October’s runoff election.
Lula gained 50.9% of the vote to Bolsonaro’s 49.1%. He was sworn into workplace on Jan. 1.
Biden requested Lula to go to Washington, D.C., in early February for “in-depth consultations on a wide-ranging shared agenda.” Lula accepted the invitation, in keeping with the White Home.
“I condemn the assault on democracy and on the peaceable switch of energy in Brazil. Brazil’s democratic establishments have our full help and the desire of the Brazilian individuals should not be undermined. I look ahead to persevering with to work with @LulaOficial,” Biden tweeted.
Biden began the week in Mexico for the North American Leaders Summit. The go to comes after the president’s first go to to the U.S.-Mexico border since being elected.
Biden is predicted to debate immigration and local weather change with Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
In the meantime in Washington, D.C., Vice President Kamala Harris swore within the new U.S. Ambassador to Brazil Elizabeth Bagley. The USA has not had an envoy to Brazil in additional than a 12 months.
Throughout her remarks Monday, Harris mentioned Bagley will additional the cooperation between the US and Brazil by supporting Lula.
Bagley has labored inside the State Division for 20 years. She is a former U.S. Ambassador to Portugal throughout the administration of President Invoice Clinton, and was an advisor to Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.