Trump and Lula's private Oval Office meeting signals lingering strain - and effort to avoid tension

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Trump and Lula's private Oval Office meeting signals lingering strain - and effort to avoid tension3 hours ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleJoão Fellet and Rute PinaBBC BrasilGetty ImagesUS President Donald Trump and Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva greet each other at the White House in Washington on Thursday in this handout photo from the Brazilian government. Despite the recent history of tension between Brazil and the United States, Presidents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Donald Trump ended their meeting on Thursday at the White House exchanging public compliments. Trump said in a post on Truth Social that the meeting had been "very good" and called Lula "dynamic", while the Brazilian president said he left the meeting "very satisfied".

Still, the absence of a joint Oval Office press appearance could be a a sign that important disagreements remain unresolved. The two governments still disagree on key issues such as crime, and Lula acknowledged they are especially far apart on trade. US lifts sanctions against Brazilian judge in Bolsonaro case"He always thinks we charge too much tax," Lula said of the leaders' tariff discussions, saying Brazil had proposed a working group to negotiate any trade disagreements within 30 days.

The Details

"Whoever is wrong will give in. If we have to give in, we will. If you have to give in, then you will have to give in," he said.

Washington and Brasilia have also faced strain over the fight against organised crime, the US's war in Iran and the risk of American interference in Brazil's October elections. And Trump has pushed Lula to drop charges against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who was last year convicted of an attempted coup and sentenced to 27 years in prison. Trump usually relishes the opportunity to meet with foreign leaders at the White House, and often turns the visits into lengthy informal press conferences.

The White House's decision on Thursday to forego a joint Oval Office appearance with Lula was telling, experts told the , despite Trump's assertions that the meeting went "well". Oliver Stuenkel, associate professor of international relations at Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV) in São Paulo, said the lack of a joint statement during or after the meeting indicates that "some disagreements remain on the table". But that doesn't mean the outcome of the meeting was negative, Stuenkel said.

What Experts Say

Dawisson Belém Lopes, professor of International Relations at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, agreed. For him, the cordial reception given to Lula indicates a normalisation of the bilateral relationship after months of strain. "I would be careful not to exaggerate or over-interpret this cancellation ," he said.

"Lula is treated as an important, respectable interlocutor. He was literally received with a red carpet and went there to discuss matters of state, regardless of the disagreements that may exist - and certainly do exist - between him and Trump," he added.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.