Brazil's Lula seeks defence and tech partnerships at G7 talks with France and Switzerland

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva attended the G7 summit in France as a guest and held bilateral meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and Swiss President Guy Parmelin. In the 40‑minute discussion with Macron, the leaders emphasized defence cooperation, especially Brazil's Submarine Development Programme (Prosub), and explored joint projects on supercomputers, as well as cooperation between Amapá and French Guiana and expanded access to medicines for the Global South.

During his meeting with Parmelin, the presidents agreed that the Mercosur‑EFTA agreement could boost bilateral trade and diversify exports. They also pledged deeper collaboration in artificial intelligence, energy, health and defence, and praised Brazil's progress in curbing deforestation.

Lula used the summit to call for greater Official Development Assistance to developing nations and, together with WHO Director‑General Tedros Adhanom, released a letter urging the early entry into force of the Global Pandemic Accord. He also confirmed further bilateral talks, including with Japan’s prime minister.