President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva celebrates his 80th birthday

The President of Brazil celebrates his 80th birthday today. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was born on 27 October 1945 in the city of Garanhuns, in the state of Pernambuco.

During his adolescence, he completed a vocational training course at the National Service for Industrial Training (SENAI), becoming a metalworker. On 19 April 1975, after gaining experience in several companies in the sector, he assumed the presidency of the Metalworkers’ Union.

On 27 October 2002, Lula was elected President of the Federative Republic of Brazil for the first time. He was subsequently re-elected in 2006 and 2022, becoming the first Brazilian to hold the nation’s highest office for three separate terms.

Lula’s political career reflects not only his domestic experience but also his active role on the international stage. In 2025, with Brazil presiding over BRICS, his government has intensified efforts to consolidate strategic partnerships and strengthen the country’s presence in the global arena.

This year, according to information released by ANI, a partner of TV BRICS, Lula da Silva and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to expand cooperation in technology, energy, agriculture, and healthcare, with the goal of reaching US$20 billion in bilateral trade by 2030.

At the same time, ties with China have also deepened. Brazil has become the main exporter of soybeans to the Asian nation, sending 77 million tonnes between January and August 2025, according to Agencia Brasil.

Another key focus of Lula’s presidency within the BRICS framework has been the energy transition. According to information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Itamaraty), in September this year Brazil signed a joint statement, together with 16 other countries, to accelerate the production and consumption of clean energy. The participants – including South Africa, the United Arab Emirates and several nations from Africa and Asia – highlighted Latin America’s potential in natural resources and established the Global Forum on Energy Transitions, aimed at boosting investment in the sector.

President of Belarus Aleksander Lukashenko has extended birthday greetings to the President of Brazil, according to the press service of the Belarusian leader.

Lukashenko highlighted the growing importance of Brazil on the international stage, emphasising its active role in strengthening the countries of the Global South and in building a multipolar world. On this occasion, the Belarusian President also invited Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to visit Minsk to discuss bilateral relations.

Photo: Ricardo Stuckert / governo do Brasil