Lula is in Paris for a bilateral meeting on the Mercosur free trade agreement

This is the first state visit to France by a Brazilian president since 2012, and it comes just months before the COP 30 conference, hosted by Brazil in November.

Before stopping off on the banks of the Seine, Lula has already traveled extensively. Since January 1, 2025, he has visited the capital of Uruguay (March 1) for the inauguration of President Yamandu Orsi, and then, at the end of March, Tokyo (Japan) and Hanoi (Vietnam) to establish bilateral contacts, primarily economic. On April 8th and 9th in Tegucigalpa, the seat of the Honduran government, he attended the summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). He then traveled to the Vatican on April 25th and 26th for the funeral of Pope Francis, and on May 18th for the enthronement of Leo XIV. On May 9th in Moscow, he attended the anniversary ceremonies of the victory over Nazi Germany. On May 12th, in Beijing, he participated in the China-CELAC summit.

His two-day visit to Paris is part of a series of ongoing diplomatic meetings. During his third presidential term, he made 27 international trips in 2023 and 13 in 2024. He also hosted a South American Summit in Brazil on May 30, 2023, a Summit of the member countries of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) in Belém on August 8-9, 2023, and a G20 Summit on November 18-19, 2024, in Rio de Janeiro. He is preparing to host a BRICS summit, also in Rio de Janeiro, on July 6-7, 2025, and the COP30 on climate change in Belém from November 10-21, 2025.

The Brazilian President participated in several international meetings, including:
– the annual UN General Assembly (2023 and 2024); – the Mercosur summits (2023 and 2024), the BRICS summits (2023 and 2024), the G77 summit in Havana (2023), and the European Union-CELAC summit (2023);
– the Conference of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (2023), the Ibero-American Summit (2023), the African Union summit (2024), the World Economic Forum in Davos (2023, 2024, and 2025), the Global Coalition for Social Justice Forum in Geneva (2024), and the China-CELAC Forum (2025).

Upcoming agendas include the 15th Summit of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (July), the United Nations General Assembly (September), and two Mercosur meetings (July and December). On dates yet to be specified, a G20 summit will be held in South Africa, an Organization of American States (OAS) summit in the Dominican Republic, and an ACTO summit.

The visit of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who himself hosted his French counterpart in March 2024, aims, according to the Brazilian president, to « strengthen » strategic ties between the two countries. A dozen cooperation agreements in the fields of environment, technology, defense, energy, and health are expected to be signed.

In the turbulent global context, marked in particular by the customs surcharges imposed by US President Donald Trump on his partners, and by the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, « it is all the more important to regain convergence with Brazil, a major emerging state, » which this year holds the rotating presidency of the BRICS bloc, the Élysée stressed.

France is counting on the mobilization of Brazil, which recognized the Palestinian state in 2010, to influence the outcome of the conference organized by France and Saudi Arabia at the UN in mid-June, aimed at revitalizing the path to a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Lula is on an official visit to France to strengthen strategic ties between the two countries. After being welcomed with a ceremony at Les Invalides, the two heads of state had lunch together at the Élysée Palace. Meanwhile, the wife of the Brazilian president, Rosângela Lula da Silva, was at the Cité scolaire Montaigne, in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, accompanied by Brigitte Macron to raise awareness among students about the fight against bullying.

In the evening, a state dinner was held at the Élysée Palace. After welcoming Lula and his wife in the rain, Brigitte and Emmanuel Macron toasted with their prestigious guests. Other dignitaries were also present. Cristina Cordula, of Brazilian origin, was invited, as were Vincent Cassel and his partner, Narah Baptiste, also from Brazil. Also among the guests were Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, as well as Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH.

During a press conference at the Élysée Palace, the Brazilian president urged his French counterpart to « conclude » the free trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Union, which Paris opposes in its current form.

« My dear Macron, open your heart a little to the possibility of concluding this agreement with our beloved Mercosur. This agreement would be the best response our regions can provide in the uncertain context created by the return of unilateralism and tariff protectionism, » Lula declared, referring to Donald Trump’s return to the White House and the trade war he launched.

Emmanuel Macron, for his part, called for the agreement to be « improved » to protect European farmers, as « the Mercosur countries are not at the same regulatory level. » We must « respect our farmers and the consistency of our ambitions, » he affirmed.

This agreement with Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay should allow the EU to export more cars, machinery, and spirits, in exchange for the entry of South American meat, sugar, rice, honey, and soybeans. Paris opposes this agreement « in its current form, » unlike other European countries such as Germany and Spain.

The Brazilian president once again accused the Israeli « government » of committing « premeditated genocide » in Gaza « against women and children. » He considered recognition of the Palestinian state « a moral and human duty, and a political requirement of all world leaders. » Paris, which is considering recognition, believes that this recognition must be accompanied by recognition of Israel by Arab countries.

After this sumptuous meal under the gilded ceiling of the Élysée Palace, the Macrons took their two honored guests to Paris for an evening outing. Despite the rain, the four friends went to see the Eiffel Tower, lit up for the occasion in the colors of Brazil, and immortalized the moment with a selfie posted on the French head of state’s social media. Lula, for his part, preferred to share a video in which he declared: « We are in Paris, at the Eiffel Tower. Macron and I are working to improve France and Brazil. We are two friendly countries. » The video ends with a frank hand-to-hand exchange between the two men as the monument lights up behind them.

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is received in France, with all the considerations required for a state visit to Latin America’s leading economic power. And with a very busy schedule for the historic figure of the Workers’ Party: an official ceremony at Les Invalides, a private session at the Académie Française (a tribute to only 19 heads of state in four centuries of existence – Lula and the Immortals will debate the word « multilateralism » there); an interview with the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, a bilateral meeting and state dinner at the Élysée Palace, and the receipt of an honorary doctorate at the University of Paris-VIII Vincennes-Saint-Denis, among others.

The Brazilian president will participate in an economic summit in Monaco on June 8th, then will be in Nice on the 9th with President Macron for the opening of the UN Oceans Conference.