Lula and Erdogan agree on roadmap to increase defense cooperation

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have agreed to develop a bilateral roadmap to deepen their relationship, with a particular emphasis on defense industry cooperation. The agreement was reached during a phone conversation on Monday.

According to an official note from the Brazilian Presidency, Lula expressed his goal to expand investments in the defense sector and foster strategic alliances between Brazilian and Turkish companies. To advance these commitments, both leaders agreed to send an official Brazilian delegation to Turkey. This delegation will include the Minister of Defense, José Múcio, and the Minister of Development, Industry, and Commerce, Márcio Elias Rosa.

The presidents also celebrated the recent parliamentary ratification of the Defense Industry Cooperation Agreement signed in March 2022. This agreement aims to enhance sector capabilities through collaboration in development, production, acquisition, and maintenance of goods and services. It also lays the groundwork for joint research, modernization, and military projects, along with mutual support in technology acquisition and scientific information exchange.

Defense investment is a key promise in Lula's re-election campaign, where he has advocated for increased defense spending. Internationally, both leaders lamented the ongoing global armed conflicts and stressed the importance of intensifying dialogue to achieve peace in Ukraine and the Middle East. Erdogan invited Lula to the COP31 Climate Summit in Antalya in November, an invitation Lula accepted.