A heartwarming and symbolic exchange took place at Palácio do Planalto, as Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva delivered a joint statement following their bilateral meeting. President Lula surprised the audience by saying “Terima kasih” (thank you) in Indonesian, showing his respect for his Southeast Asian counterpart. In response, President Prabowo said “Obrigado” (thank you) in Portuguese, symbolizing mutual respect and a commitment to strengthening ties between the two major democracies of the Global South. This linguistic exchange, amidst discussions on various important topics, highlighted the personal connection between the leaders and emphasized the importance of sincerity in building relationships between nations in a world often bound by rigid protocol.
This moment exemplified the essence of diplomacy – not just through policies, but through genuine gestures of appreciation and respect. It was a reminder that meaningful relationships between nations are established through sincere interactions.
