Lula goes to France to strengthen partnerships between countries in strategic areas

Next Wednesday (4), President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva begins his visit to France, which will extend until June 9. This will be the first state visit of a Brazilian president to the country in 13 years and Lula’s second ahead of Brazil.

“The visit happens at a very positive moment of the bilateral relationship, approaching in several areas. During his passage in France, Lula will have several meetings with Emmanuel Macron,” explains Ambassador Flávio Goldman, director of the Department of Europe of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to Goldman, during the visit, the bilateral relationship and themes of the international agenda will be discussed, such as the need for global governance reform, the defense of multilateralism, the fight against extremism and the preparation for COP 30.

The program includes meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron, as well as economic, cultural and academic activities, and official ceremonies that symbolize the narrowing of the strategic partnership between Brazil and France.

Intense agenda

Lula’s first appointment in Paris will be the official arrival ceremony of the courtyard of Honor (or Cour d’Honneur) of the Invalid Esplanade, a place often used for ceremonies, parades and other events.

Then the Brazilian president meets with Macron at the Elisha Palace, headquarters of the French government, in a meeting between the delegations of the two countries, followed by a ceremony of signing acts, as well as statements to the press.

In addition to the state agendas, on his visit Lula will also be awarded the title of Doctor Honoris causa by the University of Paris 8, founded in 1969, as an unfolding of May 1968 protests in France. “Located in the peripheral region of Paris, the university was created with the purpose of democratizing higher education, always having a strong bond with the working class, marginalized audiences, students, scientists and immigrants. Therefore, an institution committed to social policies,” said Goldman.

Lula will also be honored by the French Academy, equivalent to the Brazilian Academy of Letters. He will be the second Brazilian, after Dom Pedro II, since 1635 – when the institution was created – to receive the rare tribute, granted to only 19 heads of state to this day.

Among the activities that Lula will fulfill is also planned to visit Lula and Macron to one of the milestones of the Brazilian year programming in France for Expo França 2025, at the Grand Palais.

Also in the agenda is the participation of Lula in the session of the Brazil-France Economic Forum. The meeting will bring together authorities and business leaders from both countries to discuss topics such as energy transition, innovation, infrastructure and business opportunities and investments.

On June 7, Lula and Macron head to Toulon, southern France, where they visit the French Navy naval base – which, according to the government, reinforces “the strategic partnership and cooperation on defense and security issues”.

Another important activity is Lula’s participation, on the 8th, an event in Monaco on the Blue Economy, focusing on the issue of economic use and mobilization of funding for ocean conservation.

The next day, the president goes to Nice to the third United Nations conference on the oceans. The conference seeks to promote the objective of sustainable development number 14 of Agenda 2030, which is dedicated to the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas and marine resources. In all, 60 heads of state are expected for the activity.

According to ambassador Carlos Cozendey, Itamaraty’s secretary of political multilateral affairs, “President Lula was invited to participate in the first session of the conference, and to co-press the first panel along with Greece Prime Minister Kyriákos Mitsotákis.”

Also according to the diplomat, “Brazil is promoting some of these events: one over oceans and climate change, Making Waves from Paris to Belém, making a connection between the ocean conference and COP in Belém, and a panel on oceanic culture, with UNESCO, which gives the Brazilian commitment to include oceanic culture in the curricula of basic education.”

Brazil-France partnership

In 2024, during a visit to Brazil by President Emmanuel Macron, the new action plan of the strategic partnership was signed, renewing the bases of bilateral relations. The document is divided into 24 chapters, which deal with topics such as cooperation in defense; Transfronical Issues; in science, technology and innovation; and environment, among others.

Also read: In partnership Brazil-France, Lula and Macron launch Submarino Tonelero

As an unfolding of these relationships is the submarine development program (Prosub), initially budgeted at € 6.7 billion and today around € 8.6 billion. This is the largest international cooperation project in the area of ​​defense developed by Brazil. The purpose of the initiative is to provide Brazil with the ability to design and build, autonomously, nuclear propulsion submarines.

In the economic area, says ambassador Goldman, France is also an important partner. “Our commercial current has reached US $ 9.1 billion in 2024, up 8% over the previous year. It is also an important investor in Brazil, the third origin of direct investments in the country, with US $ 66.3 billion in stock, which has been growing in recent years,” he explains.

Expected agreements

According to the Brazilian government, signatures of important acts and international agreements are also foreseen, especially in the areas of energy, health, education, science and technology and safety and relevant investment announcements are expected.

In the area of ​​climate and energy, there is an expectation of adopting a new statement of the two leaders about climate change. New cooperation initiatives should also be announced in the area of ​​education, between French and Brazilian university institutions. In the health, the announcement of new cooperation actions between Fiocruz and the Pasteur Institute is expected, involving the production of vaccines.

Regarding science, technology and innovation, it is expected to launch a digital dialogue that will allow the strengthening of cooperation in essential areas such as artificial intelligence, high performance computing and semiconductors.

Regarding security, partnerships to strengthen cooperation between Brazilian and French institutions are foreseen.

With information from the GOV Agency