This Friday, Sánchez and Brazilian President Lula da Silva will co-chair a bilateral summit between Spain and Brazil, the first of its kind between Spain and any Latin American state. The meeting, involving a dozen ministers from each country, will see the signing of agreements in areas such as economy, social agenda, innovation, and technology, elevating the diplomatic relationship between the two nations.
The rapport between Sánchez and Lula has been evident in recent years, with several official visits by the Spanish head of government to Brazil and two visits by Lula to La Moncloa, the most recent in March 2024. Both leaders have expressed their opposition to the conflict in Iran and advocate for an international order based on rules and respect for multilateral institutions, especially the United Nations (UN).
On Saturday, the IV Meeting in Defense of Democracy will take place, a joint initiative by Spain and Brazil bringing together left-wing leaders from across the globe. Participants include Colombian President Gustavo Petro, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum – whose visit marks an end to years of diplomatic tensions with Spain – and the President of the European Council, Portuguese António Costa. Leaders from Uruguay, South Africa, Ireland, Lithuania, and Albania, among others, will also attend to discuss the defense of institutions, multilateralism, disinformation, digital technologies, extremism, and inequality.
This gathering is a continuation of previous work, including three prior meetings – two during the UN General Assembly in 2024 and 2025, and one in Santiago de Chile in July 2025. The initiative, launched by Brazil and Spain in 2024, aims to counter the rise of extremism, polarization, and disinformation, phenomena that threaten social cohesion and democratic institutions. The weekend will conclude with the Global Progressive Mobilisation, organized by the PSOE, where Lula and Sheinbaum, among other heads of government, will deliver a global message of "no to war".
The President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, will play a host role, holding a dozen bilateral meetings with leaders such as Lula da Silva, Claudia Sheinbaum, Gustavo Petro, and Yamandú Orsi. Illa will receive Sánchez and Lula at the Palau de Pedralbes and will speak on Saturday at the plenary session of the Global Progressive Mobilisation, before the main world leaders and the closing remarks by Lula and Sánchez. He will also meet with the Vice-Chancellor of Germany, Lars Klingbeil, and the Governor of the province of Buenos Aires, Axel, as well as prominent figures from the Socialist International and the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Maria Ressa.
