Brazil's President Lula da Silva has flown to Washington DC, for talks with US President Donald Trump on thorny issues, while seeking to boost his image at home ahead of the October elections.
Lula and Trump had a rocky relationship as ideological opposites, and their meeting on Thursday will be only their second official encounter since holding talks in Malaysia last year.
That previous meeting has led to Washington easing a 50 percent tariff on Brazilian goods, which the Trump administration tied to the prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro.
Bolsonaro, a Trump ally, is currently serving a 27-year jail term for an attempted coup.
While Lula sharply defended Brazil's sovereignty, Trump loosened the tariffs partly to lower consumer costs for Americans, marking a start to mending fences that began at the UN General Assembly in September
Security, trade tops agenda
Security remains the primary concern for Brazilian voters, and combating organised crime is high on the agenda.
Finance Minister Dario Durigan said Brazil wanted to expand cooperation in fighting cartels to "prioritise the country and maintain constructive dialogue."
While the US and Brazil signed a deal in April to share trafficking information, Trump has made the fight against "narcoterrorism" a priority.
Also up for discussion are Brazil's vast reserves of rare-earth minerals, crucial to the production of high-tech goods.
The country holds the second-largest reserves in the world after China.
Durigan reiterated that Brazil does not want to remain a raw material exporter, stressing the need for industrial development and job creation through partnerships with foreign investors.
The US is also investigating Brazil for alleged unfair trade practices, including concerns that the PIX electronic payment system undermines the competitiveness of American firms.
The visit comes as Lula faces domestic political challenges, including recent congressional setbacks, with polls showing a tight race ahead of the October elections.
