After criticism, German chancellor promises to ‘get to know more’ Belém after meeting Lula

“Next time in Belém, I will explore more — from the dance moves to the local food and the rainforest. I look forward to strengthening our relationship as partners and friends,” Merz wrote on social media, in a comment alongside a photo with Lula.

In a speech held on November 13, Merz stated that journalists who accompanied him during the Leaders’ Summit in Belém, an event part of COP30, were “happy” to leave Brazil and return to Germany. Days later, Lula responded, saying that the federal chancellor should have “gone to a bar”, danced and tasted the cuisine of Pará.

According to sources close to Merz heard by the German news agency dpa, at this Saturday’s meeting the two leaders spoke for 40 minutes. In a friendly tone, Lula gave the federal chancellor restaurant tips for his next visit to Belém and also suggested dances that he could try. Merz responded, “Great, next time we’ll dance together,” the outlet reported.

Days earlier, Merz had minimized the discomfort caused by his statements and said he hoped to have a “totally uncomplicated” conversation with Lula. He had previously refused to issue a formal apology. A German government spokesman said the Federal Chancellor’s speech was “presented in an incriminating manner.”

As DW showed, German parliamentarians from the German-Brazilian Parliamentary Group also criticized the comment made about Brazil. Representative Isabel Cademartori of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), which makes up Merz’s governing coalition, said that “a German chancellor must avoid giving the impression that he treats important partner countries in the Global South with Western arrogance.”

Planalto says that countries strengthen trade relations

In a statement, Palácio do Planalto stated that Lula and Merz “agreed to strengthen the commercial, social, cultural and technological relationship between the two countries”, recalling the close ties since the beginning of German migration to Brazil.