According to the secretary of Latin America and the Caribbean of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, Gisela Padovan, the president will travel to Georgetown on Wednesday for the closing of the 46th summit of rulers of the CARICOM member countries, in which he will be received as special guest.

During his speech, Lula must address common issues on Brazil’s agenda with the Caribbean countries.

In addition to participating in the regional meeting, Lula is expected to meet with the president of Guyana, Irfaan Ali.

On Thursday, Lula will travel to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, where he will participate in the opening of the 8th CELAC summit in Kingstown.

Despite Brazil being one of the founders of the community, made up of 33 countries, the Executive of Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022) abandoned it. Reintegration into the bloc was one of Lula’s first foreign policy measures at the beginning of 2023, upon assuming his third term.

The meeting “takes place in a context of revitalization of CELAC, which after Brazil’s departure was paralyzed for a time,” admitted Minister Daniela Benjamin, director of Regional Integration of the Foreign Ministry. “At that summit we will have the opportunity to make an evaluation of the progress that is being made and to know how cooperation will expand from now on,” she remarked.

Official sources reported that Lula da Silva will hold bilateral contacts with other heads of government, such as the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley.

jrr/llp/jcm/ocs