India-Brazil Ties to Strengthen Further; Narendra Modi Congratulates 'Dear Friend' Lula on Election Victory

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Lula da Silva on his re-election as the President of Brazil. He expressed his desire to further strengthen the strategic partnership between India and Brazil. The 80-year-old Brazilian leader secured victory following a tightly contested race—defying the predictions of opinion polls—by defeating his opponent.
In a message shared on X, Prime Minister Modi referred to Lula as his "dear friend." He stated that he looks forward to working closely with him to further expand bilateral cooperation. "Heartiest congratulations to my dear friend President Lula on his victory," the Prime Minister wrote on X. He added that he looks forward to working with him to deepen and broaden the India-Brazil strategic partnership. The Prime Minister also highlighted the potential for strengthening cooperation across various sectors, pursuing the shared priorities of the Global South, and working toward building a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable world. Lula returned to the presidency by defeating Flávio Bolsonaro—the eldest son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro—in the runoff election held on Sunday. This victory paved the way for a historic comeback by the leftist leader, even as a political shift toward the right is becoming evident in many Latin American countries. Flávio Bolsonaro, who had gained an edge over Lula in the first round, campaigned on a platform to advance his father’s far-right movement. Nevertheless, despite voter concerns regarding rising prices and allegations of corruption, Lula delivered a strong performance in the runoff.

Lula returned to the presidency by defeating Flávio Bolsonaro—the eldest son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro—in the runoff election held on Sunday. This victory paved the way for a historic comeback by the leftist leader, even as a political shift toward the right is becoming evident in many Latin American countries. Flávio Bolsonaro, who had gained an edge over Lula in the first round, campaigned on a platform to advance his father’s far-right movement. Nevertheless, despite voter concerns regarding rising prices and allegations of corruption, Lula delivered a strong performance in the runoff. India and Brazil share a strong strategic partnership across sectors such as trade, investment, energy, defense, agriculture, and technology. Both nations collaborate on issues affecting developing countries and support enhancing the role of the 'Global South' in international decision-making. Prime Minister Modi’s congratulatory message underscores India’s keen interest in strengthening ties with Brazil and expanding cooperation in these areas. He also highlighted their shared commitment to building a more inclusive and equitable international order. As two significant emerging economic powers, both India and Brazil have a strong interest in expanding economic cooperation and coordinating their positions within multilateral forums.