Hannibal Hanschke / EPA
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz
While visiting Brazil, Friedrich Merz signed 13 agreements with Lula da Silva. The German Chancellor’s commitment to strengthening relations and doubling trade with Brasília is part of a broader effort to reduce dependence on the USA and China.
The German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed this Monday a series of agreements to strengthen cooperation between Germany and Brazil in areas ranging from defense to rare earths and renewable energies.
The leaders of both countries committed to deepen political ties and economic relations between their countries, in response to an increasingly unstable global order.
According to , Merz stated at the time that Germany intends to double the volume of trade with Brazil in the coming years.
Not to mention the American president Donald TrumpMerz suggested that deepening relations with Brazil is part of a broader German strategy to economic approach to so-called “” around the world in an effort to reduce dependence on the US and China.
“Os Close ties between our two countries are most needed than ever before, at a time when the world order is going through such profound changes”, declared Merz, alongside the Brazilian leader.
“We share an interest in a international order we can trust in agreements and treaties, and in which we are able to work together to face even problems of a global dimension”, added the German Chancellor.
Merz’s commitment to greater cooperation with Brazil comes at a time when weakened German economyexport-oriented, faces new difficulties faced with the consequences of war between the USA and Israel against Iran.
“The repercussions will not stop at America’s doorstep“, said Merz regarding the war in the Middle East. “All of this is, at the moment, putting the economic development on a global scale and could lead to greater political destabilization far beyond the Middle East.”
Lula stated that Brazil and Germany will work together to gain more independence in a technological sector dominated by North American companies.
“We are interested in develop digital infrastructuressuch as data centers, high-performance computers and semiconductors,” said Lula. “We don’t want remain dependent on foreign companies who enrich themselves at the expense of our citizens’ data — without any guarantees of privacy and security.”
Among the 13 agreements signed between Berlin and Brasília during the consultations held this Monday there are declarations of intention on cooperation in matters of acquisition of defense material, quantum computing and critical and strategic minerals.
Merz promised significantly expand current trade volume between Germany and Brazil, which amounted to 20 billion euros in 2024.
“Taking into account the size of these two economies, it is clearly insufficient”, he stated, referring to the volume of trade. “We want to increase it significantly, and I unreservedly endorse the ambitious objective of doubling this commercial volume in the coming years”, stated Merz.
The need to independence of the so-called “intermediate powers” against the USA was this Sunday also the main theme of a communication to the country by the Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carneyin which he stated that the economic ties between the two countries “”.
