ABU DHABI: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva landed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Saturday, following a 2-day visit to China to bolster economic and diplomatic relations.
As state media reported, Suhail bin Mohammed al-Mazrouei, UAE’s energy and infrastructure minister, received the Brazilian leader at Abu Dhabi airport.
Lula, who in January returned to power after two terms as Brazil’s president between 2003 and 2010, is likely to meet Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Brazil back on world stage
In Beijing, where Lula tried to consolidate economic relations with Brazil’s main trading partner, he said his nation was back on the world stage and ready to mediate to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Brazil and China have refused to join Western states in imposing sanctions on Russia for its invasion. There is tension in the Western nations that both potential mediators are overly cosy with President Vladimir Putin.
The Gulf country UAE has maintained a neutral stance on the issue.
Its economic hub Dubai has attracted Russian businesspeople and professionals fleeing the impact of Western sanctions since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The oil-rich Gulf country is Brazil’s 2nd-largest trading partner in the Middle East.
It said bilateral trade excluding petrol totalled over 4 million dollars last year, representing a 32% rise from 2021.
