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Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva pressed US President Donald Trump to restrict his controversial "Board of Peace" initiative to the Gaza conflict during a phone call Monday, proposing that the organization include Palestinian representation.
The 80-year-old Brazilian leader, who has been invited to join Trump's global conflict resolution body, suggested the board "be limited to the issue of Gaza and include a seat for Palestine," according to the Brazilian presidency. The two leaders also agreed to arrange a meeting in Washington during the 50-minute conversation.
Lula's proposal reflects growing international skepticism about the board's scope and purpose. Although Trump originally presented the initiative as focused on overseeing Gaza's reconstruction, the organization's charter does not appear to restrict its activities to Palestinian territories and suggests broader ambitions that could compete with the United Nations.
The Brazilian president's concerns echo doubts raised by traditional US allies including France and Britain about the board's potential to undermine existing international institutions. Last Friday, Lula accused the 79-year-old Trump of attempting to create "a new UN where only he is the owner" through the proposed organization.
During Monday's call, Lula also advocated for "comprehensive reform of the United Nations, including the expansion of the permanent members of the Security Council," positioning Brazil's diplomatic priorities within the broader conversation about global governance.
The exchange comes amid significantly improved relations between Washington and Brasilia following months of tension. Lula and Trump have communicated multiple times since their first official meeting in October, which marked a turning point in bilateral ties.
The Trump administration has since exempted key Brazilian exports from 40 percent tariffs previously imposed on Brazil and lifted sanctions on a senior Brazilian judge, demonstrating the tangible results of the diplomatic thaw.
The two presidents also addressed the situation in Venezuela, with Lula calling for "peace and stability in the region." The discussion came weeks after Lula criticized the US military action aimed at ousting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, saying it crossed "an unacceptable line."
The Brazilian presidency announced that Lula would visit Washington following scheduled trips to India and South Korea in February, with a specific date to be determined "soon."
The veteran leftist leader has maintained an active diplomatic schedule in recent days, conducting phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping as part of Brazil's efforts to position itself as a mediator in global conflicts.
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