Brazil’s Lula reached out to India and China to discuss multilateralism, the UN and shared Global South priorities, signalling deeper Brics coordination on global governance and international stability.
In a series of high-stakes diplomatic calls, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva talked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, indicating a robust consolidation of the Global South’s agenda.
Against a backdrop of escalating international volatility including recent US interventions in Latin America and shifting trade dynamics, the trio of Brics leaders highlighted a shared commitment to “reformed multilateralism” and a revitalised role for the United Nations. These conversations come at a pivotal moment as Brazil prepares to pass the Brics baton to India, emphasising a seamless transition of leadership within the influential bloc.
The conversation with PM Modi took place against a backdrop of growing concern among emerging economies about unilateral trade policies and protectionist measures from major powers, a theme that Lula has stressed repeatedly on global platforms.
The global south’s shield
A Unified Defence President Lula’s dialogue with President Xi Jinping cantered on the urgent need to “jointly protect the interests of the Global South.” According to readouts from the call, Xi emphasised that China and Brazil are “constructive forces” essential for maintaining world peace. The conversation was heavy with the weight of recent geopolitical shifts, specifically the Trump administration’s arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, which has sent ripples of concern across Latin American capitals regarding sovereignty and international law.
The two leaders advocated for the United Nations to remain the central arbiter of global governance, opposing the “impunity” of unilateral actions. By aligning China’s Belt and Road Initiative with Brazil’s national development goals in infrastructure and energy transition, the leaders are not just talking about diplomacy; they are building a concrete economic alternative to Western-led systems.
Xi call reinforces unity on multilateral principles
Just a day after speaking with Modi, Lula also held a lengthy phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on January 23, 2026, marking another key step in consolidating unity among Brics partners. In this exchange, Xi reiterated China’s support for Brazil and other Global South nations amid complex global dynamics, urging them to jointly protect the interests of developing countries on the international stage.
Xi highlighted the centrality of multilateralism and the United Nations’ foundational role in global governance, emphasising that both China and Brazil should serve as constructive forces in safeguarding world peace and stability. He highlighted the strategic partnership between the two countries — now elevated to a “community with a shared future” and pointed to ongoing cooperation that aligns with broader goals of economic development, infrastructure growth and sustainable energy transitions.
The Chinese president also discussed the importance of addressing global challenges through collective action, including advocating for international fairness and justice. Such rhetoric resonates with Lula’s own criticisms of unilateralism and protectionism, particularly as nations navigate tensions on trade, climate negotiations and security. A strong UN system in this context, is seen as essential to equitably mediating competing interests and holding all actors to agreed international norms.
Multilateralism, Brics and global governance in focus
Taken together, Lula’s dialogues with Modi and Xi reflect a broader diplomatic strategy by Brazil — currently chair of the BRICS bloc — to re-energise multilateral cooperation and strengthen the voice of the Global South within global governance structures. BRICS, originally composed of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa and now expanded to include several other emerging economies, has been positioning itself as a counterbalance to a world order perceived by some members as overly dominated by Western powers.
For Lula, these conversations are not merely symbolic. They signal a coordinated push to defend multilateralism, fortify the UN’s role, and promote equitable solutions to world issues from peace and conflict resolution to economic stability and sustainable development. With shifting geopolitical landscapes and rising calls for reform of international institutions, Lula’s phone diplomacy with Modi and Xi highlights a concerted effort among BRICS leaders to champion collective decision-making and shared prosperity.
By aligning closely with India and China on these themes, Brazil hopes to deepen strategic partnerships across continents and to present a united front within international forums such as the UN, G20 and COP summits. As global challenges become increasingly complex and interconnected, such cooperation among major emerging powers may prove pivotal in shaping the future contours of global governance.
With inputs from agencies
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