Merz touts Brazil’s potential on critical metals, says Germany can supply technology

HANOVER, Germany, April 20 (Reuters) – “Brazil has great potential to increase deliveries of critical metals,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday, adding that Germany could provide the technology.

“There are significant opportunities in the cost-effective extraction of certain metals required for e-mobility and wind turbines,” Merz said alongside Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the industrial fair in Hanover.

“Germany is ready to support Brazil with technological know-how and expertise to further expand these relations,” he added.

Speaking through a translator, Lula said his country was expanding investments in critical minerals and rare earths, but his government “will not accept any model that reduces our country to only resource extraction, serving only to meet demand from abroad.”

Lula added that Brazil is trying to increase defense cooperation with Germany.

“We are in dialogue regarding strategic areas such as tanks, air defense and drones, as well as joint projects,” he said.

German-Brazilian government consultations are expected to take place later on Monday.

(Reporting by Andreas Rinke, Writing by Friederike Heine; Editing by Matthias Williams)