Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced on Friday, October 24, 2025 that Brazil is seeking full membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), underscoring his country’s commitment to strengthening political, economic, and cross-regional cooperation with Southeast Asia.

“Brazil is working to become a full member of ASEAN,” Lula said after meeting ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, on Friday.

Lula’s visit to the ASEAN Secretariat marks a significant diplomatic milestone for Brazil as it deepens engagement with the region. The president emphasized that Brazil shares a similar “face and spirit” with ASEAN countries in terms of development and economic solidarity.

“We have a face like ASEAN countries, and we want to become a full member of ASEAN,” Lula told reporters at a press conference in Jakarta.

Currently, Brazil holds the status of ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner, granted in 2023 ‒ making it the only Latin American country to hold such status. Brazil was also the first nation from the region to sign the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) in 2011, and it established a permanent mission to ASEAN in 2023. These steps highlight Brazil’s growing interest in deepening political and multisectoral cooperation with Southeast Asia, particularly in trade, investment, and environmental issues.

Strengthening ties, climate cooperation, global engagement

In his remarks, Lula highlighted that Brazil’s economy has grown by more than 3 percent for two consecutive years ‒ a performance not seen since 2010. He said this momentum should attract new investment and expand Brazil’s exports to the Southeast Asian market, home to over 680 million people.

“I intend to continue bringing good fortune to Brazil,” Lula said. “That’s why I keep traveling ‒ to see how we can boost trade and attract more investment to Brazil.”

Beyond economic ties, Lula also invited ASEAN to participate in the upcoming COP30 World Leaders Summit, which will take place in Belém, Pará State, on November 6–7, 2025.

ASEAN will have its own pavilion at COP30 and plans to establish a special negotiation group to strengthen its collective stance on climate change issues.

Following his visit to Jakarta, Lula continued to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for the ASEAN Summit and the East Asia Summit (EAS). His attendance marks the first time a Brazilian president has participated in an ASEAN Summit, signaling a new phase of Brazil’s diplomacy toward the Asia-Pacific region.