Brazil's Lula to Visit Obama

In his first meeting with a South American leader since his inauguration, President Obama will be meeting Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva next Saturday, March 14, in Washington. The leaders are expected to discuss

ways to respond to the global financial breakdown in connection with the G-20 meeting in Britain next month.

The meeting comes before Obama travels to London for the Group of 20 economic summit in London on April 2, and to Trinidad for the Summit of Americas in April, set for April 17 through 19.

Brazil is becoming a leader in Latin American diplomacy, and Lula has distanced himself from from Hugo Chávez's highly inflammatory style of politics. Lula has repeatedly asserted in the past that

"it's been a privilege to have been among the presidents who are building good relationships with the United States."

Not one to miss a chance to insert himself into the headlines, Chávez in turn came out saying that he has given Lula permission to discuss Venezuela with Barack Obama during the meeting.