Tuesday’s “retreat” is being hosted by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and is intended to forge closer relations in a continent where left-wing governments are currently in vogue.
Only Peruvian President Dina Boluarte is anticipated to miss the summit in Brasilia, which will be the first of its sort in almost a decade. Eleven of the continent’s 12 heads of state are slated to participate.
Beginning the process on Monday, seasoned leftist Lula met with Nicolas Maduro, heralding the “historic” restoration of a connection that had been broken under Bolsonaro’s predecessor, the far-right former president.
Brazil had cut diplomatic ties with Maduro’s government under Bolsonaro (2019-2022), who labeled the socialist leader a “dictator.”
“This is the start of Maduro’s return, and (Tuesday’s) meeting will be the return of South American integration,” Lula told a news conference, after greeting his Venezuelan counterpart at the presidential palace with a hug and a back-slap.
