WASHINGTON: The US President Joe Biden will receive his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Washington on Feb 10, the White House said on Tuesday.
“During their meeting at the White House, the two Presidents will discuss the United States’ unwavering support of Brazil’s democracy and how the two countries can continue to work together to promote inclusion and democratic values in the region and around the world,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement, reported German Press Agency (dpa).
Left-wing President Lula was sworn in on Jan 1 after winning a run-off election in October against controversial far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro.
On Jan 8, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters who refused to accept his electoral defeat stormed government buildings in Brasilía.
Even before the vote, Bolsonaro had repeatedly expressed doubts about the electoral system and indicated that he might not recognise the result. He has never explicitly acknowledged his electoral defeat.
Two days before the end of his term, Bolsonaro flew to the United States with his family, where he has been since. The outbreak of violence in Brazil is a grim reminder of the attack on the US Capitol two years ago. On Jan 6, 2021, supporters of then US president Donald Trump violently stormed the US Congressional seat in Washington, where the Republican’s election defeat to Biden was to be certified at the time.
A crowd incited by Trump violently entered the building, killing five people.