JERUSALEM—Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left Thursday for an ”historic visit” to Brazil where he will meet with President-elect Jair Bolsonaro and attend the latter’s inauguration, his office announced.
He will meet with the Brazilian Defense and Foreign Ministers and is also due to meet with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Chilean President Sebastian Pińera, Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernandez and other leaders.
Netanyahu is also to meet with Brazilian Jewish community leaders and participate in community events, which will also be attended by Rio de Janeiro Mayor Marcelo Bezerra Crivella.
Upon leaving for Brazil, Netanyahu said: “I am leaving on a visit to Brazil at the invitation of its president. I will meet with President-elect Bolsonaro and with his ministers of defense, finance and foreign affairs. We will discuss Israel’s ties with the largest country in Latin America, the fifth most populous country in the world. Brazil is a huge country with huge potential for the State of Israel, economically, diplomatically and vis-à-vis security. It is a great change that [President-elect] Bolsonaro has declared and I am pleased that we can begin a new era between Israel and the major power called Brazil.”
Brazil, the largest country in Latin America, is a major economic power with over 200 million people. Trade between Brazil and Israel is currently around $1.12 billion. The Prime Minister’s visit is expected to increase bilateral trade and advance economic relations between the two countries.