On an official visit to the Philippines, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva cited the country's independence hero, José Rizal, a symbol of the fight against colonialism, when referring to his re-election in October.
"On the 25th, faced with extremism and attempts at external interference, the Brazilian people chose sovereignty, democracy and social justice. They chose not to lower their heads when they could raise them, as the Filipino hero José Rizal wrote."
Lula participates, as a guest, in the Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). After meeting with his Philippine counterpart, Ferdinand Marcos Júnior, the Brazilian president would make a speech that ended up being canceled due to Lula's hoarseness. Copies of the text of his speech were distributed to journalists.
The gesture of courtesy and respect for the Filipino hero served both for Lula to project his political legitimacy and to reinforce the defense of multilateralism and respect for international law.
“In an increasingly polarized and conflicted world, Brazilians and Filipinos converge in their commitment to peace, multilateralism and respect for international law”, says the text.
Lula highlighted that Brazil and the Philippines share colonial pasts and common development objectives, such as the pursuit of economic growth with social inclusion and environmental protection.
“As voices from the Global South, we defend multilateral institutions that are more representative and capable of responding to the challenges of our time”, he highlighted.
The president assured that Brazil and the Philippines agree on several other points, such as recognizing the importance of facing climate change; robust, ethical and responsible governance for artificial intelligence; as well as defending the self-determination of the Palestinian people.
"As tropical and megadiverse countries, we provide essential environmental services for the balance of the planet. Ensuring due remuneration for the conservation of these assets is fundamental", defended Lula.
Forest Fund
He argued that both countries could benefit financially from the creation of the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF), if they keep their forests standing.
Announced by Lula in 2023, the international financing fund began operating in 2025, during the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP30), which took place in Belém (PA).
It is a financing model that combines public and private investments, providing for the transfer of resources to countries with tropical forests that work to preserve these areas. In other words: nations that manage to recover and keep their forests standing should be financially rewarded for this effort.
Lula says he has reinforced the invitation for the Philippines to join the Belém Commitment on Sustainable Fuels and highlighted that Brazil is ready to help the Filipinos reduce their dependence on fossil fuels and ensure greater energy security, sharing national experience in biofuels and clean energy generation.
According to the Brazilian president, a bilateral memorandum on the topic, signed in August, is already underway, adding to the announcement of technical assistance to strengthen the Philippine sugarcane industry and seek new partnerships in agricultural research.
Protagonism
For the professor of International Relations at Ibmec-SP, Alexandre Pires, Lula's stance signals a resumption of the foreign policy strategy that the federal government adopted at the beginning of the current term, in 2023.
"President Lula has once again sought international protagonism. [This search] characterized the beginning of his third and current term and which seems to have returned to be one of his objectives for the next term", said Pires, pointing out that, in his speech, Lula sought to establish a balanced distance from the great powers.
For the expert, when speaking from a country that maintains a historical and strategic alliance with Washington, Lula seeks to reposition Brazil as an alternative leadership on the global stage.
“He took advantage of the fact that he was in the Philippines, a first-rate ally of the United States, to state his positions in relation to the international order and, in a way, to pass on some diplomatic messages – including drawing a parallel between the colonial and independence situation of the Philippines and Brazil.”
Pires recalled that, immediately after freeing themselves from Spanish rule, in 1898, the Philippines became a territory administered by the United States, a condition that the country only overcame in 1946.
Dome
Lula visited the Philippines at the invitation of President Ferdinand Marcos Júnior. In addition to participating in the Asean Summit, he takes part in the Brazil-Philippines Business Forum, which will address topics related to bilateral trade and international partnerships.
“I bring with me to Manila [capital of the Philippines], a renewed responsibility to diversify partnerships, reinforce cooperation ties and reposition Brazil in global value chains”, stated Lula, attributing his visit to the country as “a new chapter in the bilateral relationship”.
In January this year, the federal government formalized a request to expand the relationship with Asean, in order to move from the current status of Sectoral Dialogue Partner to Dialogue Partner, the highest level of engagement with the group of Southeast Asian countries.
If the request is accepted, Brazil will join a group that includes the participation of countries such as Canada, South Korea, the United States and Japan.
Business between Brazil and the Philippines currently generates around US$3 billion. The Asian country is, today, the main buyer of pork produced in Brazil.
At the beginning of the week, however, the Philippine government announced the suspension, for 60 days, of imports of Brazilian product and that of other producing nations, with the aim of trying to increase the prices paid to local breeders. If maintained, the measure will come into force on the 24th.
Today (14), in Manila, the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, André de Paula, said he was optimistic about the evolution of the conversations that technicians and political authorities from both countries have been holding.
