Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva attends a meeting with Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the official residence of the prime minister in Putrajaya, outside Kuala Lumpur on October 25, 2025. Photo: CFP

By Brasil 247 - During a meeting with Brazilian and Malaysian business leaders on Sunday, held within the framework of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called for a new international order based on cooperation and development rather than power disputes between global blocs. 

According to Lula, "the world today no longer accepts a new Cold War." He emphasized that Brazil does not intend to align with rival powers but to pursue a foreign policy centered on peace and economic growth. "We do not want to engage in disputes, as happened after World War II, about who was on the side of Russia or the United States," he said. "We do not want a new confrontation between those who are with the US or with China. We want to stand alongside China, the US, Malaysia, Indonesia, and all countries that wish to do business with us. Because that is what can make the world grow, that is what can make the world develop, that is what can bring investments from one country to another."

Strengthening diplomatic and economic ties

The president also noted that Brazil has been working to strengthen its diplomatic and economic ties with various regions. He pointed out that for decades, Brazil prioritized relations with Europe and the US while neglecting its neighbors in South America and emerging regions.

"For a long time, Brazil was isolated in South America. The country had little contact with the region and looked only toward Europe and the US," Lula recalled. "We then decided that it was necessary for Brazil to play a more important role in global economic and commercial geopolitics. The first step we took was to turn toward South America, so that we could build a relationship of trust with the region."

Diversifying global partnerships

Lula highlighted that since the beginning of his first term in 2003, his government has sought to diversify Brazil's international partnerships, prioritizing the Global South and exploring new opportunities for integration. "When I assumed the presidency in 2003, I decided we needed to change Brazil's foreign relations approach and open ourselves to the world. We first looked to South America, then to the African continent, and later discovered East Asia. Gradually, we are realizing that the world exists beyond Europe and the United States," he concluded.

(Reported by Brasil 247 on October 26, 2025)