‘Harmonious’ meeting between Merz, Lula despite Belém controversy

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva met on the sidelines of the G20 talks in South Africa on Saturday, after the German leader sparked outrage with his comments about the Brazilian city hosting the COP30 climate talks.

Sources close to the chancellor described Saturday’s meeting, focused on the UN Climate Change Conference in Brazil, the protection of tropical rainforests and the war in Ukraine, as “very harmonious”, although it was not clear whether Merz’s controversial comments had been discussed.

Merz traveled to the Amazon city of Belém for a summit two weeks ago ahead of the annual climate conference. On his return to Berlin, the chancellor said he asked the journalists who accompanied him if any of them wanted to stay.

“No one raised their hand,” Merz said. He said journalists were “happy” to return to Germany, which he described as “one of the most beautiful countries in the world.”

This statement sparked anger in Brazil, particularly from President Lula.

At the time, Lula said Merz should have gone to a bar in Belém, danced and tasted the local cuisine.