Brasilia, December 1 (RHC)-- President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is due to travel to the United States in December to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden before assuming power in Brazil, former minister Fernando Haddad said Wednesday.  According to the university professor, who participated in meetings of the government transition team, Lula received "many invitations from great powers."  At the end of the year, however, he must travel to the United States and Argentina.

"Many invitations from great powers to meet him or, if it is not possible, to converse with him virtually. I believe that the president will end the year having talked with the great powers of the world", Haddad remarked.  He also mentioned an invitation for the president-elect to travel to China at the end of the year.  "But I don't think there won't be time for two international trips of that magnitude.  Perhaps, the United States and Argentina are possible trips," he clarified.

Lula's trip to Argentina was anticipated by former Foreign Minister Celso Amorim in an interview with GloboNews TV station.  The day after the second round of voting on October 30, the Argentine head of state, Alberto Fernández, visited the founder of the Workers' Party to greet him on his victory over the far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro.

It also transpired that on December 5, the U.S. Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, is due to meet Lula during an official visit to Brazil.  White House sources confirmed the information to GloboNews reporter Raquel Krähenbühl.

On January 1st, the former trade union leader will enter the Planalto Palace, seat of the Executive Power in the capital, to receive the presidential sash.