Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva met with Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, on Nov. 11 during the U.N. climate conference in Antalya, Turkey. (Foto: Instagram)
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva met with Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, on Tuesday, Nov. 11, during the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP31, in Antalya, Turkey. It was their first meeting since Rodríguez took office in January.
Brazil’s government said the two leaders expressed willingness to work toward fully restoring bilateral relations, which have been strained since 2024 amid controversy surrounding Venezuela’s presidential election. During their conversation, Lula also discussed economic cooperation between Brazil and Venezuela, including recent business delegations Brazil sent to Venezuela.
Lula said he was interested in opening talks to review a free trade agreement signed in 2012. According to the Brazilian government, Rodríguez suggested sending a delegation of negotiators to Venezuela to discuss the matter.
Rodríguez, formerly Venezuela’s vice president, became interim president after Nicolás Maduro was captured by the United States in January. Lula has called her at least three times since Maduro’s fall, including on Jan. 3, the day of the U.S. military operation that resulted in the capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Lula also called Rodríguez in June after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela, killing more than 6,000 people, according to the report. At the time, Brazil sent more than 12 tons of medicine to Venezuela and dispatched Brazilian personnel to assist with search-and-rescue efforts.
