On the bustling sidelines of the second forum for the future of taxation in Lisbon, a significant dialogue unfolded that highlighted the complexities and evolving dynamics of Brazil’s international relationships. Brazilian Federal Supreme Court Minister Gilmar Mendes, a prominent figure in the country’s judiciary, sat down with CNN Portugal to discuss not only the legal knots of migration between Brazil and Portugal but also the broader political winds blowing across the Atlantic and beyond.
Mendes did not mince words as he addressed the mounting anxieties among the Brazilian community in Portugal, many of whom have been caught in the crosshairs of recently tightened Portuguese immigration laws. These changes, approved by Portugal’s Assembly of the Republic, have left Brazilian immigrants—some in search of a better life in Europe—vulnerable to administrative confusion and, at times, outright contradiction. "Perhaps even by a disorganized and chaotic character of immigration services. This is worrying and it must be readily repaired," Mendes observed, pointing to cases where individuals received both deportation notices and confirmations that their records were in order. According to CNN Portugal, these inconsistencies have sown fear among the Brazilian diaspora, threatening to disrupt what has long been a peaceful and mutually beneficial relationship between the two nations.
The situation is further complicated by documented incidents of xenophobia targeting both Brazilian and Luso-Brazilian citizens in Portugal. Mendes stressed the need for open communication, urging Brazilian authorities to convey these concerns directly to their Portuguese counterparts. "Surely we must translate this theme [xenophobia] to the Portuguese authorities. And I think that the Brazilian authorities should be informed about this and translate this discomfort to the authorities in Portugal," he stated, emphasizing dialogue as the best path forward.
But the diplomatic balancing act does not end at Europe’s edge. As both countries grapple with internal and external challenges—from migration to the rise of populism—Brazil finds itself at another crossroads in its relationship with the United States. On October 3, 2025, Brazilian officials confirmed efforts to arrange a high-stakes, in-person meeting between President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and former U.S. President Donald Trump. According to sources cited by Bloomberg, the anticipated venue is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Malaysia, set to begin on October 26. The choice of a neutral third country—rather than the White House or Brasilia—reflects the delicacy and urgency of the moment.
The backdrop to this diplomatic overture is a sharp deterioration in U.S.-Brazil relations over the past several months. The Trump administration’s decision to impose a hefty 50% tariff on Brazilian goods, along with sanctions targeting a Brazilian Supreme Court judge involved in the trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro, has soured the once-cordial ties. Bolsonaro’s conviction in September 2025 on charges related to a coup attempt marked a watershed moment for Brazilian democracy. Mendes, reflecting on the episode, told CNN Portugal, "I think Brazilian democracy came out stronger in this episode... This is the first time an author of an attempt to coup and its associates have been penalized. And this is extremely relevant." He added that the world has taken note, viewing Brazil’s response as a lesson in democratic resilience.
Yet, even amidst political turbulence, there are glimmers of hope for renewed cooperation. A fleeting encounter between Lula and Trump at the United Nations General Assembly in New York last week was described by Trump as evidence of "good chemistry" between the two leaders. According to Bloomberg, both sides expressed interest in a more substantive discussion to address their differences. While Trump has not officially confirmed his attendance at the ASEAN summit, he is widely expected to visit Malaysia as part of a broader Asia trip, which would also include stops in Japan and South Korea. Lula, for his part, will head to Kuala Lumpur following a state visit to Indonesia, signaling his intent to deepen Brazil’s trade ties with the region.
Brazil’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mauro Vieira confirmed that talks about a possible meeting are ongoing, with the format—whether in person, by phone, or via video call—still up in the air. "It can be a phone call, a video call, as well as a meeting at a specific moment when both are present in the same international event," Vieira told Congress, as reported by Bloomberg. He also clarified that, for now, there are no official plans for Trump to visit Brazil or for Lula to travel to Washington.
The resumption of high-level communication marks a notable shift after months of diplomatic silence. Finance Minister Fernando Haddad, Lula’s foreign affairs adviser Celso Amorim, and Vice President Geraldo Alckmin—who also heads the ministry of industry and services—are all involved in rekindling dialogue with their U.S. counterparts. Alckmin recently spoke by phone with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, while Haddad is slated to meet U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington later this month. These efforts aim to clear up misunderstandings and lay the groundwork for more stable relations, especially concerning the legal frameworks governing U.S. social media companies operating in Brazil.
This particular issue has become a flashpoint. Lula’s team maintains that the suspension of Rumble’s Brazilian operations was due to the company’s lack of a legal representative in the country—a requirement under Brazilian law. The same rule led to the temporary suspension of Elon Musk’s X platform last year, though service resumed once local compliance was achieved. Brazilian officials are keen to stress, as reported by Bloomberg, that any proposed regulations for big tech remain in the hands of Congress and are designed to combat criminal activity, not to stifle freedom of expression.
Meanwhile, the private sector is also stepping up to mend fences. The influential Brazilian banking federation Febraban has been called upon to provide input on sector-specific concerns, reflecting a broader push for dialogue and integration. Febraban President Isaac Sidney described the recent signals from both governments as a "window of opportunity." He told Bloomberg News, "I see that Brazilian government officials are fully willing to restore what is essential in a bilateral relationship with another country: dialogue, interaction, and integration." Sidney’s optimism is shared by many who believe that the recent meeting, brief though it was, between Lula and Trump at the UN could open the door to more substantive engagement.
Yet, caution remains the watchword for President Lula. According to Brazilian officials, Lula is determined to ensure that any meeting with Trump is productive and well-prepared. He wants to have all the necessary data and information at his fingertips before sitting down with his American counterpart—a sign that Brazil is seeking not just a photo op, but real progress on contentious issues.
As the ASEAN summit approaches, the stakes for Brazil’s international relationships—both with Portugal and the United States—could hardly be higher. With migration, democracy, and trade all in flux, the coming weeks may well determine whether dialogue and resilience can prevail over discord and division. For now, both sides appear willing to give diplomacy another chance, hoping to turn fleeting encounters into lasting solutions.