A heartwarming and meaningful exchange took place at Palácio do Planalto as Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva delivered a joint statement after their bilateral meeting. President Lula surprised everyone by saying “Terima kasih,” which means “thank you” in Indonesian, showing his respect for his Southeast Asian counterpart’s culture. In a charming gesture of reciprocity, President Prabowo responded with “Obrigado,” which means “thank you” in Portuguese, highlighting the mutual respect and shared commitment between the two countries. This simple exchange of words, representing Indonesia and Brazil, symbolized a deep connection and unity between two major democracies in the Global South. Amid discussions on food security, defense, renewable energy, and technological cooperation, the moment of linguistic exchange provided a personal touch to the formal meeting. It reminded everyone that relationships between nations are not only built on policy but also on sincere gestures.
