Amid growing global tensions, Brazilian President Lula da Silva is emphasizing a “strategic partnership” with Germany to strengthen multilateralism. In an article published for “Der Tagesspiegel” and “Handelsblatt” (Friday edition), da Silva asserted, “I am convinced that multilateralism is indispensable. Only through it can we meet the demands of our people and all humanity for peace, sustainability, and shared prosperity”.
Brazil is participating as a partner country in the Hannover trade fair, which is scheduled to begin over the weekend. Da Silva relayed that he accepted the invitation from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to attend Hannover to further deepen the partnership between Brazil and Germany. He stated, “As global instability increases, our countries are relying on dialogue and cooperation to develop concrete solutions for the major challenges of our time”.
According to da Silva, the world of politics is undergoing a “particularly critical moment”. He pointed out that unilateralism is rising, and “the law of the stronger” is becoming dominant. He further highlighted the concerning statistics around military spending, noting that the record total of approximately $2.7 trillion could only fund the end of world hunger with just four percent of it. Additionally, he warned that trade disputes could disrupt global trade structures and deepen inequalities.
In this context, the Brazilian President stressed the significance of the free trade agreement between the European Union and the South American economic organization Mercosur, which was signed in January and is set to apply provisionally starting May 1, 2026.
The Brazilian President added that “the agreement will expand market access, create clear, predictable rules, and thus create room for expanding investments, exports, and production chains on both sides of the Atlantic”. He concluded that “its true success will be measured by how quickly its benefits reach factories, agriculture, supermarket shelves, and the wallets of citizens. Its success will demonstrate that both sides benefit from multilateral solutions”.
This year marks Brazil’s return to being a partner country at Messe Hannover for the first time in over 40 years, with 140 companies represented. Brazilian President Lula da Silva is scheduled to open the industrial fair on Sunday alongside the German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz (CDU).