In an exclusive interview with The Hindu, President Lula emphasised that “as two of the world’s largest democracies and dynamic economies, India and Brazil cannot remain distant”. On trade, Mr. Lula acknowledged that bilateral commerce, though at a record high in 2025, remains far below potential at around $15 billion. “The answer to trade wars is more international trade,” Mr. Lula said, calling for expanded Mercosur-India ties. Looking ahead to India’s BRICS presidency in 2026, Mr. Lula expressed confidence that New Delhi would advance reforms in global governance. We both stand for fair, multilateral, open, and rules-based trade, anchored in the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Source: The Hindu February 20, 2026 17:40 UTC