Energy top on Obama Agenda in G20 Summit

The relations of the United States to Latin America will be determined by their energy cooperation as well as the two summits of many world leaders soon. This topic will be top on the list of President Barack H. Obama as he prepares for his meeting with their Brazilian counterparts this coming Saturday. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the President of Brazil, will meet United States President Barack Obama at the latter’s residence in the White House sometime around eleven in the morning. This will make Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva part of the small group of foreign leaders who have visited the new Democratic president in the Washington state ever since his inauguration last January 20.

Global Crisis: The Need to Meet

This meeting is decided by the backdrop of many global financial and economic crises, which will then dominate two particular gatherings of the leaders of the world sometime next month. Both men and women leaders will attend the G20 meeting of both old and emerging economic powers slated on April 2 as well as the April 17-19 Summit of the Americas. Other officials also say that Obama as well as Lula will be discussing the economic crisis and shall prepare for these summits. Furthermore, they will also touch on the topics of climate change, the United States policy when it comes to the neighbors of Brazil in Latin America and biofuels. Both presidents shall use this good opportunity to talk about ways to strengthen their cooperation when it comes to bilateral, hemispheric and of course global issues. This also includes ways to address this current financial crisis as preparing for the G20 meeting next month. This was reported by Mike Hammer, who is the spokesman representing the White House National Security Council.

Some Conflicts Arise Prior to Meeting

There were also some divisions which had arisen between the two nations of United States and Europe with regard to addressing the financial crisis even before the G20 meeting. Washington is also pushing for the increased government spending. At the same time, other countries like France will then favor a lot more emphasis on the tough market regulation. One senior administration official also mentioned that Obama wanted to ask about Lula’s position but had not placed any amount of pressure to make him join the side of the United States. Lula is also expected to make use of the leverage of Brazil as the heavyweight of the region in order to press Obama for fewer sanctions and more engagement. This is because of the social disparities and their economic problems that were deep-seated in nature. Lula is also expected to push for the end of trade embargo with Cuba and seek rapprochement with the President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez.