Brazil and Germany signed a joint declaration of intent on Monday (Apr. 20) in Hannover to expand scientific and technological cooperation in critical and strategic minerals, which are considered essential for the energy transition and the development of emerging technologies.

The deal was inked during an official visit by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who met with the European country’s Federal Chancellor, Friedrich Merz.

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The agreement, signed between Brazil’s Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MCTI) and Germany’s Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space, lays the groundwork for intensifying joint efforts in research, development, and innovation across the entire production chain of these materials.

Critical minerals are essential to modern technologies, defense, and the energy transition, including the manufacture of batteries, solar panels, and turbines, and their supply faces risks of scarcity or dependence on a limited number of suppliers.

Brazil ranks among the countries with the largest reserves of these raw materials on the planet. Lula made the remark to reporters following his meeting with Merz. The Brazilian president emphasized that mineral extraction should go beyond simply selling raw materials.

“Our reserves also make us key players in the debate on critical minerals. We want to attract processing chains to Brazil, rather than rely solely on exports. Collaboration in technology-intensive sectors is a priority for a country that does not want to remain a mere commodity exporter,” he stated.

Under the cooperation agreement, also cited by Friedrich Merz in his press statement, Brazil and Germany pledge to expand research, development, and innovation in the exploration, extraction, and processing of critical minerals, including rare earths and other metals.

Both countries recognize the strategic importance of research, development, and innovation to increase value added along the value chains of critical and strategic minerals, contributing to sustainable industrial development, technological sovereignty, and stronger domestic industrial capabilities.

Commitments include support for innovation, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises in both countries; the launch of joint research, development, and innovation projects for the responsible management of critical minerals; and exchanges of scientists and postgraduate technical staff. The agreement provides for the development, by 2026, of a new bilateral program to provide direct funding to national institutions and companies in both countries.

Other agreements

Alongside the critical minerals agreement, Brazil and Germany signed 14 other joint agreements during Lula’s official visit.

Among them is a cooperation agreement to strengthen the fight against environmental crimes such as deforestation, wildlife trafficking, and illegal fishing and mining. Another agreement covers cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence, with a focus on digital government and industrial applications.

On his second official trip to Germany during his current term, Lula highlighted that Brazil is one of the few countries with which Germany maintains a strategic partnership agreement, considered the highest level of diplomatic relations between nations.

“This closeness is more important than ever at a time of profound changes in the world order. We want to strengthen our mutual benefits and expand our network. We want to be strong partners with shared ideas,” said Friedrich Merz in a statement to the press.

In addition to the bilateral meeting, Lula delivered a speech at the opening of the world’s largest industrial trade fair, Hannover Messe, which is featuring Brazil this year. He also attended a meeting with Brazilian and German business leaders, where he highlighted opportunities in the biofuels sector.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva delivered a strong speech against wars and in defense of strengthened multilateralism in Barcelona, Spain, where he participated in the fourth high-level meeting of the Forum for the Defense of Democracy.

The president began his three-country European trip in Spain on Saturday (Apr. 18). He then traveled to Germany and later to Portugal.

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In his speech, Lula also emphasized that the consequences of armed conflicts fall on the poorest.

“Trump invades Iran, and consequently one sees an increase in the price of beans in Brazil, corn in Mexico, and gasoline in other countries. Are the poor going to pay for the irresponsibility of wars that nobody wants?” he asked.

Lula emphasized that countries have other problems to face and the world “does not need war.”

“We have more than 760 million people going hungry, we have millions of illiterate people, and millions of people died because there was no vaccine against COVID-19,” he added.

Lula noted that the world is currently experiencing the highest number of armed conflicts since World War II and called for coordinated action by the United Nations (UN).

“We must demand that the UN Secretary-General convene special meetings, even without a request from the five Security Council members,” he said.

The president criticized some of the major ongoing wars, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Israel’s destruction of the Gaza Strip, and the US-Iran conflict in the Middle East.

“No president of any country in the world, no matter how powerful, has the right to impose rules on other countries. None. And the five members of the UN Security Council must come together to change this behavior. We cannot wake up every morning and go to sleep every night with a president’s tweet threatening the world and waging war. And they all make decisions without consulting the UN, of which they are members and part of its Security Council,” Lula continued.

The Brazilian president lamented the silence of countries and stressed that democracy at the United Nations depends on their engagement. “Strengthening multilateralism depends on us.”

Regulation of Digital Platforms

In his speech, Lula also criticized the role of digital platforms in the political destabilization of countries and called on the UN itself to lead discussions on shared rules among nations.

“The plain and simple truth is that lies have triumphed over truth. That is a hard fact. To lie, you don’t have to explain yourself; to justify yourself, you do,” he said.

Lula also called on the UN to take action regarding social media platforms.

“It needs to function to ensure, for example, that social media platforms are regulated worldwide, for everyone. A president cannot interfere in one country’s election, interfere in another’s, or ask for votes for another. Where is electoral sovereignty? Where is territorial sovereignty? This is an issue we need to discuss and make our voices heard on. And the arena where we must fight is the United Nations,” Lula added.

The Democracy Forever Forum is an initiative launched in 2024 by the governments of Brazil, Spain, Colombia, Chile, and Uruguay. In Barcelona, the event, organized by Spanish President Pedro Sánchez, also featured Presidents Yamandú Orsi (Uruguay), Gustavo Petro (Colombia), Cyril Ramaphosa (South Africa), Claudia Sheinbaum (Mexico), and former Chilean President Gabriel Boric.